Disney Air?

[manning]

What airline today is earning a profit???

 

[Viper4194]

Even the most ardent de-regulation advocate could tell you the airline industry is one that could benefit from some regulation. Its labor costs are through the roof due to strong unions of pilots/mechanics etc, they have to meet extraordinary safety regulations and the competition is cut-throat. Only 1 legacy carrier has not filed for bankruptcy protection and that's American Airlines. Disney would almost certainly not enter into an industry where their return on their investment may never be realized. Co-branding works for sure, but their own airline with their own pilots/fleet? I doubt it highly.

 

[JasonDVC]

Jason where are your seats? Can't wait for TO opening night in Foxboro!

Anyway, Your number 2 is not run or owned by Disney. Mears is contracted to provide all outside and some inside transportation, this includes Magical Express. Luggage delivery to and from the resorts and the airport is handled by a contractor too. It has been like this way before Magical Express. DCL buses were always run by Mears even though they were painted to look 100%Disney owned. (1998)
Years ago I went on the Back Stage Magic Tour. It is a 7 hour tour that visits 3 parks and our bus for the day was a Mears Motor Coach.
So, if the airline thing were to happen it would most likely be a contractor.

I'm in sec 124, row 16, 2 seats. I won't be at that opening game. My first game this year will be the Atlanta game. Thinking about going on the road to the New Orleans game.

The contractor idea makes sense.

 

[chartle]

My thoughts exactly. If paying a premium for better airline service was acceptable to most first class and business class would sell out first, nevermind the fact that airlines would actually offer this service on all flights domestically.

Fact is most American's don't value the price of transportation.

There's a story in the latest Popular Science about legroom in coach and how American Airlines had a big marketing plan that increased leg room and charged a little more.

Guess what, after a year they put most of the seats back the way they were and charged more for the better seats.

Disney will never ever ever have there own airline. Everything about what Disney offers for transportation is to make them more money by keeping you on site. ME is not a perk that Disney provides out of the goodness of their heart. It is to keep you from renting a car and going off site.

A Disney airline is not going to bring anymore people to the parks or their hotels so there is no reason to lose money on it like they do with ME.

OK, if Disney reopened their airstrip they could have their own airline. That way they can keep you from spending any money at all off site.

 

[anthony2k7]

What airline today is earning a profit???

virgin atlantic definitely. I think virgins other airlines are as well but not certain.


virgin atlantic actually increased their profits last year.


back on topic, virgin could well be a possibility for a co-branding agreement with disney as virgin make big money through virgin-holiday packages to disney. Virgin also recently bought up the remains of Travel City Direct who sell themselves as orlando specialists.

 

[Argent]

When WDW was designed I think they had a plan to fly people directly to WDW. I don't know if they planned on having their own airline or work with another. They had a runway built on property which is still there.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) Airlines are terrible investments.
2) Besides, there is a lot of liability in money and public relations.
3) Could you see the headlines for a plane crash?
. . . "Disney kills 238 of its own guests enroute to its Disney World "

 

[chartle]

When WDW was designed I think they had a plan to fly people directly to WDW. I don't know if they planned on having their own airline or work with another. They had a runway built on property which is still there.

I don't think it could handle the big planes even in its day.

http://www.google.com/search?source...DBR_enUS312US312&q=walt+disney+world+airstrip

http://maps.google.com/maps?sourcei...253,-81.573186&spn=0.017592,0.043774&t=h&z=15

 

[manning]

1) Airlines are terrible investments.
2) Besides, there is a lot of liability in money and public relations.
3) Could you see the headlines for a plane crash?
. . . "Disney kills 238 of its own guests enroute to its Disney World "

Disney is using it's parks as a cash cow to prop up its other ventures. Can you imagine how much money would be redirected to an airline??

 

[speedyf]

First off...never say never. Most people said that no major network would air a "Caveman" sitcom based on popular commercials....but, ABC managed to green light that project.

Also...I think everyone is discounting the money that could be made when the plane unloads at the gate directly into a gift shop (just like every ride at WDW seems to do nowadays).

Speed

 

[KYMickey]

First off...never say never. Most people said that no major network would air a "Caveman" sitcom based on popular commercials....but, ABC managed to green light that project.

Of course that idea was not very well thought out, against reasonable opinions and failed miserably soon after starting. The same thing that would probably happen to Disney Air!

 

[chartle]

Of course that idea was not very well thought out, against reasonable opinions and failed miserably soon after starting. The same thing that would probably happen to Disney Air!

Here's a good example.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hooters_Air

When I googled this I hadn't realized that it lasted as long as it did.

 

[yitbos96bb]

I don't think forming their own airline will happen, especially in these economic times. Something that may happen however is a co-branding agreement of some kind with one of the existing airlines (Delta and Air-Tran come to mind). The agreement late even include specially painted planes etc. from major hub cities to Orlando.

The problem was starting their own airline outside of the economic investment is the necessity to not only serve major cities but also to feed those cities from smaller areas. The major airlines already have these systems in place so the co-branding idea makes more economic sense.

I agree. Co-branding sounds liek a good idea. The problem is that the only really well run airline with the requirements you mention is southwest and I'm not sure they'd do that.

 

[yitbos96bb]

THIS! Chris Wins!

Seriously tho - I can't see it. This airline thing is not a typically strong money maker in recent years.. add to that ...

1. I don't care who flies the plane. I care that it's done safely, efficiently and that I don't have to pay more than $238 (all in) for my seat on it. I bet I'm like a lot of people.

2. The 2-3 hour flight experience isn't a great opportunity to sell you something else significant. Maybe a DVC presentation.. hahaha.. seriously tho, Disney makes so much coin on the extras ... I don't see enough extra's here.

3. Magical Express is offered because it supposedly means a captive audience at their resorts ... less going off-site and more spending the green with Disney. I don't see that argument anywhere for an airline.

Co-branding - sure. Their own airline? I don't see it.

Knox

I'll sit through a time share presentation for a free flight!

 

[yitbos96bb]

Of course that idea was not very well thought out, against reasonable opinions and failed miserably soon after starting. The same thing that would probably happen to Disney Air!

Well had they gone with the original concept that push racial barriers in an Archie Bunker kind of way, it might have succeeded. However, they of course didn't and it became a lame sitcom.