Delta's Woeful Decision....

jalencastro · #1 06-03-2008, 09:55 PM

I guess the only reason I am somewhat relieved is that my trip this year happens to take place before the changes....although I do not trust DELTA and will continue to check on the flight status week by week....in any case I emailed DELTA about JFK-SDQ and here is what the wrote back to me:

Thank you for your e-mail to Delta Air Lines. Our records indicate that, we would be discontinuing services from John F. Kennedy, New York to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic on September 09, 2008. Also, in today's competitive environment, economic factors have an impact on our decisions about which markets to serve, and with what level of frequency. The decision to withdraw our service from SantoDomingo, Dominican Republic was made only after extensive evaluation of customer demand and cost analysis. We continuously evaluate potential markets, including the possibility of reinstating previously served markets, as changes in passenger demand occur. We appreciate your interest in Delta Air Lines.
Sincerely, Online Customer Support Desk
http://www.delta.com

toneloc24 · #2 06-04-2008, 12:37 AM

No worries. This was announced a while back.

Both markets will still be served by Delta out of Atlanta. So, it will just mean a connection in ATL from/to NYC. Which is actually not so bad, since there are hourly flights to Laguardia.

PICHARDO · #3 06-04-2008, 04:06 AM

In fact, this represents the actual opening some smaller air companies needed in order to enter the DR-US market...

Given that most travelers prefer to make non stop flights to their destinations towards the US (mostly due to the always late connections there), this will improve the rentability of smaller jets servicing this route.

JetBlue started on these same basic principles when it started to service the US-DR market sometime ago.

Unlike Delta and American, JetBlue restricted the luggage severely due the fact that they sell their cargo space to the commercial parcel services between both nations.

As it stands, JetBlue makes their flights rentable even when the seats are not sold to capacity for travel in the flights...

Air Dominicana will take the empty non-stop spots of American and Delta in the Dominican market to get a foot into the market as soon as possible. In other words, the flights had market established already; what makes them so expensive to run for the other liners is the lack of flexibility on cargo rates to the local DR's market unlike their rival JetBlue.

JetBlue is known to flight premium Dominican goods that are date sensitive to the US market on a daily basis. This goes from flowers grown in Constanza to cigars and organic products.

The DR's market is one of the few in the region still growing instead of shrinking; this is true also to the air travel market. The failure to adjust to demand from and to other international airports in the DR is what made these lines cancel the flights.

Dominican travelers (not foreigners) paid top dollar for non-stop services and will not change even if they reach into the US$800 per flight or more, unlike other routes.

The DR is studying the proposal to lower the taxes and airport charges (some of the highest in the market) to aid the liners to sell more seats with lower fares. But the main reasoning is that lower fares not necessarily translate into more passengers on the current conditions of the US market.

At best the fares could drop US $50.00 or so if taxes and fees are lowered, not much of an enticement at the current rate of fares.

The DR is looking to buy out Shell from the local refinery and use the jet fuel production by the state, without charging the taxes in the fuel to the liners in a preferential timed agreement.

It would be a win-win situation as the state can make up the lost revenues by jet fuel back with the revenues produce by increased travelers to the country.

I don't mind the big players cutting flights to the DR due to this fact, the most benefit will be translated to the home Dominicana and other lines that will soon want to take part in servicing the DR market...

Big players tend to force smaller operators out of their markets by offering fares that would make it impossible to sustain, less yet to compete...

Bye-bye Delta and AA!! About time!!!!

PICHARDO · #4 06-04-2008, 07:04 AM

Like this:

Pawa inicia vuelos regulares a PR
Pawa Starts regular air service to Puerto Rico...

El Nacional, la voz de todos

The empty slots are now going to be filled...
When you offer regular service where there was the same just days before, chances are you'll do much better than the last...

PICHARDO · #5 06-04-2008, 07:19 AM

Now add:

Sol Dominicana Airlines.(Coming soon!)
Air Dominicana.(Coming soon!)
Merengue Airlines Dominicana.(Coming soon!)
Ocean Airways Aircraft Services.(Coming soon!)
Caribair. (expanding destinations/planes)

jalencastro · #6 06-04-2008, 08:15 AM

I have been waiting to see what is going on with Air Dominicana and Merengue Airlines? Are they not in the US yet?

El Tigre · #7 06-04-2008, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toneloc24

No worries. This was announced a while back.

Both markets will still be served by Delta out of Atlanta. So, it will just mean a connection in ATL from/to NYC. Which is actually not so bad, since there are hourly flights to Laguardia.

How about people that detest connecting flights like myself? hehehehe.

It is really sad to see Delta go. I really enjoyed their service. Air Dominicana better come quick because I can't fly on AA. I'm going to give JB a chance for the first time this summer.

AZB · #8 06-04-2008, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toneloc24

No worries. This was announced a while back.

Both markets will still be served by Delta out of Atlanta. So, it will just mean a connection in ATL from/to NYC. Which is actually not so bad, since there are hourly flights to Laguardia.

For the sake of hijacking the thread (just for a short time): tonloc, when is delta starting atl-mde, cali, cartagena??? when is bogota-jfk route starting?
AZB

Latino2002 · #9 06-04-2008, 12:43 PM

Hey AZB....que pasa....
Just check today Diario Libre news about Delta leaving the JFK STI and SDQ.
Also the price of jet fuel is very high in the Dominican republic...twice of anywehre in the World...and for sure we can utilize those 737 800 and 757 200 in a more rentable market..like Georgetown....soon delta will recive new 737 700 for others markets.....I know is amazing that JFK market in not doing well.....but guess what....Delta has not even a TV comercial in DR..Or newspaper.....and I always complaint with our Globlal network sales about it....but the excuse is...sorry no budget we need to same $$$$ to keept this airlines running.........
So sad so lost this market...big mistake like we did back in 2001 with atlanta Buenos aires services...delta discontinued the services and launch the services back with a great succesor....Good luck for those that book a Ticket JFK to DR....just call reservation and they will find you a route even with AA or via ATL.......(re'route).
:::: Sorry to see one of the no.1 safe airlines to leave these market¨¨¨¨

toneloc24 · #10 06-04-2008, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AZB

For the sake of hijacking the thread (just for a short time): tonloc, when is delta starting atl-mde, cali, cartagena??? when is bogota-jfk route starting?
AZB

None of the US airlines gained Dept. of Trans. approval to fly into MDE or CLO. Each only were approved to Bogota. This has already been finalized after appeals. Delta recently announced JFK-BOG service to begin in August 2008. Check the site.

Delta will be taking advantage of the "Open Skies Agreement" to Cartagena and Barranquilla, the only two cities available under the agreement. Spirit has already begun the FLL-CTG route.