OK, about all of this hubs and spokes and all.. How about this type of question on something like poor scheduling and just about nada non-stops from ELP to anywhere east of the Mississippi. Just moved to Las Cruces and travel often back east. El Paso is about the worst departure city for long distance travel that I have ever experienced, regardless of airline. ELP is not even like a spoke, it is more like the broken branch of a small tree, or the air filler point on a tire where you have to get to the rim before you can even think of getting to a destination from a spoke.
I am hearing that there are a few explanations for this and I was wondering if folks at Southwest could confirm, or not even want to attempt to answer.
1. El Paso has not yet been defined as an important start/destination.
2. The landing fees and dock fees at El Paso are just about the highest of
airport in North America.
3. The Wright Amendment repeal and resulting changes have not been
adequately addressed.
I believe that the answer is probably a little of each. I do know that not everyone flying out of El Paso wants to stop at some other place in Texas. Why no nonstops from El Paso to PVD or MHT? Those two airports are probably in the top 10% at Southwest. 'You need more gates at PVD', yeah and the runways could be another 1000 feet longer. But that is sea level and your newer 737 can get off the ground and exceed FAA distance and emergency fuel regulations easily...So what is the reason for the lack of nonstops to those airports? I'd bet 2 full planes 5 days a week would make that a very viable root.
Ok, so its probably an El Paso, Houston, Dallas thing...too bad.
We have a great airport here in Las Cruces, LRU. It is underutilized and should be considered by Southwest as a future,'mini-hub' dedicated to nonstops to east and west coast cities. There is plenty of space for growth there and with the future spaceport 45 minutes north it is bound to be an area of tremendous growth and potential. What do you think?
thanks,
Dan Delaney
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