Fort Lauderdale International Airport

US carriers gain access to their strongholds through new Washington National slot allocation

Four US carriers have won rights to launch flights from slot-controlled Washington Reagan National Airport to serve markets where they are dominant or have a strong presence. Southwest Airlines and Virgin America are gaining access to National for the first time, while JetBlue will expand its blossoming presence at the airport. The new services should usher in some fare rationalisation in those markets as the carriers seek to challenge United’s dominance in the Washington market from its hub at Dulles International Airport, which is about 56km from National.

US lawmakers in the latest FAA Reauthorisation bill signed into law earlier this year included a provision freeing up four outside perimeter (beyond 2,011km) slot pairs for new entrant or limited incumbent carriers at National, which is located only about 6km from the US capitol. Carriers already having an ability to operate flights outside the perimeter were also allowed to trade in a single pair of inside perimeter slots for new outside perimeter service. A slot pair consists of one take-off and one landing slot.

American quietly relaunches Miami-Seattle as high costs force Alaska to Fort Lauderdale

American Airlines has opted to quietly backfill flights from Miami to Seattle being abandoned by Alaska Airlines, which has chosen to transfer flights to lower-cost Fort Lauderdale International Airport. It appears American believes it can capitalise on its dominant carrier status at Miami to operate flights to Seattle profitably.

The new flights were rolled softly, placed on a list of new routes featured on American's website and loaded into its schedules. American opted not to unveil the routes through a normal announcement.

Spirit Airlines broadens its focus to both legacy entrenchments and classic niche markets

Spirit Airlines executives have concluded consolidation in the US has created a prime opportunity for its ultra low-cost business model to allow the carrier to invade legacy strongholds like Dallas Fort Worth and introduce limited flights that will allow Spirit to grow the market with lower fares instead of poaching passengers and creating a structural shift in the competitive landscape. At the same time, Spirit is also developing its more typical niche markets to round out a network focus dominated by domestic growth during the past couple of years.

Spirit has turned its attention away from growing Caribbean and Central America services from its Fort Lauderdale hub to capitalise on some of the 300 non-stop markets between Canada and the northern region of South America that have more than 200 passengers per day each way. These markets, like northern New York state airports close to Canadian cities, can support the 18% annual seat growth Spirit aims to achieve through 2015.

In conversation with Spirit Airlines CEO Ben Baldanza

Spirit Airlines has proven there is room in the mature US market for a new model and unusual network strategy.

Where are the world's leading LCC airports?

LCCs now account for about a fifth of all flights globally, making it increasingly vital for airports and air traffic management providers to understand the sector and its drivers. Worldwide, of the top 20 airports for LCC aircraft movements, 12 are in the US, four are in Europe and the remainder are in the Asia Pacific region. (By seats, ten are in the US, and five each in Europe and Asia Pacific). As ever, though, the global LCC market is in flux. Airlines expand or contract their operations at airports in relation to their own growth trajectories and the changes in season.

American ups capacity at Fort Lauderdale by 30%

In an interesting move that may smack of déjà vu, American Airlines announced it is adding flights from Fort Lauderdale to its DFW and Chicago O’Hare hubs, and in November will begin a non-stop flight from FLL to Los Angeles International.