IAH - New International Terminal to Replace Terminal D

[Houston19514 4617]

20 hours ago, KinkaidAlum said:

Because it isn't 2018. Because the entire industry has shrunk by over half. Because travel isn't predicted to return to normal until the end of 2021 and that's if there's a vaccine. 

 

Southwest's answer is to try and stimulate O&D in existing markets by serving alternative airports (IAH and ORD) and expanding service to the few vacation destinations Americans can travel to (PSP, MIA, and Mexico). 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

they still have to get access to gates and if United was squatting on them ...   I doubt United has released any gates as a result of COVID.  Have any other airlines left Terminal A or permanently reduced service?

Edited October 18, 2020 by Houston19514

[Houston19514 4617]

Southwest is going to operate out of Gate A3 at Bush Intercontinental.  They will have 3  aircraft parking positions at the Gate.

Edited November 30, 2020 by Houston19514

[wxman 883]

Can somebody explain to me the benefit of having one gate and two or three destinations from IAH when all your resources, planes, mechanics, operations are out of HOU? I mean don't get me wrong, I think it's great to have more traffic at IAH but from a business perspective, nobody thinks Southwest and IAH. 

[Justin Welling 80]

@wxman Here are my thoughts on the matter. SWA would not being doing this if it weren't for COVID. They have slashed their schedule and they have empty planes and crew that needs to be on planes. Southwest is looking into how they can utilize their planes and crew in effective ways that won't burn cash at alarming rates. If that means they can start IAH operations (in addition to HOU) by using aircraft that would've been parked with crew that needs hours, and at the end of the day could even possibly turn a small profit or just break even; then they'll pounce on it.  Also, Southwest might see a weakness from United's standpoint. They see an opportunity to take marketshare away from UA without UA really putting up a fight. Does it seem practical in the long run? Probably not, but COVID has changed the airline industry and things that would not have seem normal a year ago, might makes sense today. 

[Tumbleweed_Tx 1789]

there are smaller markets that are served by IAH but not Hobby, and vice versa. Southwest wants to capitalize on those passengers who need to go from say Chiraq to Marfa... You catch a SW flight from Chiraq, fly to IAH, the catch AreJay's charter service at IAH to Marfa.

[Houston19514 4617]

18 hours ago, wxman said:

Can somebody explain to me the benefit of having one gate and two or three destinations from IAH when all your resources, planes, mechanics, operations are out of HOU? I mean don't get me wrong, I think it's great to have more traffic at IAH but from a business perspective, nobody thinks Southwest and IAH. 

 

They are effectively going to have three gates.  Three aircraft parking/boarding positions at "Gate A3".

12 hours ago, Justin Welling said:

@wxman Here are my thoughts on the matter. SWA would not being doing this if it weren't for COVID. They have slashed their schedule and they have empty planes and crew that needs to be on planes. Southwest is looking into how they can utilize their planes and crew in effective ways that won't burn cash at alarming rates. If that means they can start IAH operations (in addition to HOU) by using aircraft that would've been parked with crew that needs hours, and at the end of the day could even possibly turn a small profit or just break even; then they'll pounce on it.  Also, Southwest might see a weakness from United's standpoint. They see an opportunity to take marketshare away from UA without UA really putting up a fight. Does it seem practical in the long run? Probably not, but COVID has changed the airline industry and things that would not have seem normal a year ago, might makes sense today. 

 

Mostly correct, but Southwest's return to IAH was merely accelerated by COVID. It was already in their long-term plans before COVID.

[Reefmonkey 270]

5 hours ago, Houston19514 said:

 

They are effectively going to have three gates.  Three aircraft parking/boarding positions at "Gate A3".

 

Mostly correct, but Southwest's return to IAH was merely accelerated by COVID. It was already in their long-term plans before COVID.

What was SW's reason for leaving IAH in the first place? I remember going to SMU in the 90s, it was really handy having SW flying between IAH and LUV since my parents lived in the Champions area. It would have been hell to have to schlep out to DFW or HOU when I was just coming home for a weekend.

[JLWM8609 731]

8 minutes ago, Reefmonkey said:

What was SW's reason for leaving IAH in the first place?

From 2005...

https://www.airliners.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=309083

[Houston19514 4617]

Buried in an attachment to a City Council Agenda item regarding the Terminal Redevelopment Program at Bush Intercontinental:

" By mid-Summer this year, design will have been completed and construction will be fully underway."

To remind everyone of what the project includes:

 Constructing a new 11-gate concourse on the northside of Terminal B, becoming the “New Terminal C North” (project already completed by United Airlines); demolition (already completed) and replacement of the “Old Terminal C North” pier with a new Terminal D-West pier, renovation of the existing D Terminal, and integrating the Terminal D-West pier and D Terminal into a new single common-use north gate complex; expansion, modernization, and reconfiguration of the Federal Inspection Services (FIS) facility to improve baggage handling systems; constructing a new centralized international ticketing hall and centralized international security checkpoint; improving the meeter/greeter hall, and increasing the passenger roadway and curbside drop off/pickup capacity. ITRP also provides for the completion of various Program-supporting enabling projects such as utilities infrastructure and terminal roadways.

 

[wxman 883]

Did Houston permanently lose any routes or airlines during this pandemic? I see Houston no longer has a direct to Sydney. That's the one that stick out to me the most since I've been on that flight several times. Any others? Are they coming back?

[HoustonBoy 225]

1 hour ago, wxman said:

Did Houston permanently lose any routes or airlines during this pandemic? I see Houston no longer has a direct to Sydney. That's the one that stick out to me the most since I've been on that flight several times. Any others? Are they coming back?

I think that's a temporary suspension along with Ethiopian Airlines