Delta to close 16 of 24 gates at MCO in Jan

[QT Pooh]

Don't know what the impact is to flights but here's a link to the story... We're arriving in MCO on Jan. 11th and supposed to be heading back on the 22nd.

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/2005-12-23-delta-orlando_x.htm?csp=28

 

[bicker]

Hmmm... right in the middle of our trip....

 

[jcodespoti]

According to most articles Delta is actually increasing the number of flights daily to Orlando.

ATLANTA, Dec 23, 2005 (AP Online via COMTEX) -- Delta Air Lines said Friday it plans to shut down two-thirds of its gates at Orlando International Airport as part of attempts to emerge from bankruptcy.

Delta will close 16 of its 24 gates at the airport on Jan. 18, said Anthony Black, a company spokesman.

"It's part of our overall efforts to restructure our costs and to get them in line with our operations," Black said. "The bankruptcy process has afforded us the opportunity to address the situation of having too many gates."

Delta and its subsidiaries, including Song and Comair, currently operate 115 flights from the airport each day, Black said. Despite the airline's lease cancellation, Black said the company plans to increase the number of flights moving through the Orlando airport.

Joe in CT

 

[seashoreCM]

We will have to see whether this move to fewer gates results in fewer late night flights coming in (and sitting all night at a gate) and fewer early morning flights going out. These flights tend to be less favored by vacationers but more favored by local business folks.

The costs of the airport will be redistributed onto the other airlines, according to the Orlando Sentinel article mentioned.

Could there be additional pressure from airport management on Disney regarding Magical Express? Such as a greater cost per passenger transported leading to a quicker imposition of or greater amount of charge for ME transportation?

One other article (I forget the source) suggested that airport net revenues are down as a result of Magical Express because fewer per-unit airport fees are being collected from other transportation providers such as rental car agencies. We do have to also take into account the added efficiency of handling more baggage away from the main terminal and having less vehicular traffic coming up to the pickup and dropoff areas.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/magicx.htm

 

[dudspizza]

Could this simply because Song is being moved over to Delta so there will be less of a need for the gates? Just curious.

Duds

 

[bicker]

No. It reflect a substantial reduction in the number of gates being utilized, in total, by the airline.

 

[QT Pooh]

The article states that they'll be closing down a lot of gates but increasing the number of flights. That sounds to me like they'll be increasing the number of indirect flights from their hubs and decreasing the number of direct flights.

 

[AllyBri]

I am also flying around this time. I took a look on the FT boards, they don't seem to think that this is such a big deal. Not that they know much more then we do.

 

[PlaneJoy1]

Delta had planned/somewhat did a major build up of MCO a long time ago...... remember Delta Express? They leased a bunch of gates that they ended up not needing.... the 70's, 80's and 90's plus that place where the regional jets come in down stairs. Now that they are in bankruptcy they can get rid of the excess gates that they only use now b/c they can. Delta couldn't do that before.

 

[safetymom]

The folks on Flyer Talk are very knowledgeable so I would keep checking there for more information.

www.flyertalk.com then miles and points, then the Delta board.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Delta had planned/somewhat did a major build up of MCO a long time ago...... remember Delta Express? They leased a bunch of gates that they ended up not needing.... the 70's, 80's and 90's plus that place where the regional jets come in down stairs. Now that they are in bankruptcy they can get rid of the excess gates that they only use now b/c they can. Delta couldn't do that before.

That's nothing. Delta has an entire new terminal in Boston and is now trying to get out of its repayment obligation

 

[Wish I lived in Fl]

So who pays if Delta doesn't?

 

[safetymom]

The same thing happened in Pittsburgh. USAirways wanted a new terminal and pledged to fund most of it. When they went into bankruptcy they voided their contract. So the County and city had to help out. So that means the taxpayers end up paying for it.

 

[KilleriMac17]

So who pays if Delta doesn't?

we citizens of MA do.

then again, its either that or pay crooked politicians so it doesnt really matter as long as they don't mess with my disney trips.

 

[disneytraveler]

we citizens of MA do.

then again, its either that or pay crooked politicians so it doesnt really matter as long as they don't mess with my disney trips.

Well iam a new englander to but have to agree to!

 

[owtrbnks]

115+ flights using 8 gates? They'd have to turnaround more than 14 flights a day at every gate - before the increase!
Who do they think they are . . . Southwest?

 

[Letsbgoofy]

I was thinking the same thing (except I'm not familiar with Southwest). Then I started thinking about the hour or so we sit at the gate waiting to board when there is no plane and no activity at the gate the whole time. I didn't realize the airlines were paying a fee for the use of each gate. It is a waste of money the way they sit there unused.

 

[bicker]

Until Delta gets rid of some of its premium service elements (assigned seats, first class service before takeoff, etc.), this closing of 16 departure gates will likely translate into some significant delays on the tarmac for arriving flights, and perhaps even some delays in departures.

 

[PlaneJoy1]

That's nothing. Delta has an entire new terminal in Boston and is now trying to get out of its repayment obligation

You are correct... part of the problem with Boston is they didn't/couldn't put international arrivals into Terminal A, there is no customs clearence. Everything still has to go over to E terminal when arriving from an international destination.

Delta would have had a hard time getting out from under the new terminal anyway. It is a gorgeous place.... to bad they don't have the $$ to add service and make it useful.

 

[PlaneJoy1]

115+ flights using 8 gates? They'd have to turnaround more than 14 flights a day at every gate - before the increase!
Who do they think they are . . . Southwest?

Most of those are regional jets which use the 60's gates underneath the tram system. Not sure how many can park there, but a bunch. I'm sure some of the schedule changes are happening to spread out the use of the gates so that there aren't too many aircraft on the ground at one time. And who knows what the future of Song is???