falcon2000aj

FWIW- I heard from the rumor mill... FLL flying will be reduced by 60% for 18 months during the construction.

NedsKid

Currently, the runway expansion and redevelopment of T4 in FLL are the only items approved for construction (whether to tear down T2 and T3 and build one big building with the new T4 or just extend/expand T3 and link all the concourses together inside security is still under consideration). Both impact Spirit, since we are not only the largest user of FLL, but also the primary tenant of T4 and the south side of the airport.

Here's a link to the current plan for T4. Page 12 of the report will show you the transition plan, and page 13 the new initial layout of T4. T4 currently has 10 gates, including the 6 customs and immigration gates. These 6 gates will be maintained, while the 4 other gates (H1, H3, H5, & H7) will go away, but be replaced by 4 new gates on the 'new T4', though the need for construction crews to actually build this new addition will almost certainly eliminate the use of H1, H3 & H5 without replacing them with new gates during construction. Then H2, H4, H6, & H8-10 go away and get replaced with more than 6 gates (though I can't see how that will work as neatly as the first 4 gates, since the customs access will need to be replaced too). That's part of the reason why T4 will be linked to the T3 south gates inside the secure side, essentially linking the 'JetBlue' concourse to the 'Spirit' concourse. Though I can't find the place where I read it, the plan is to put some of Spirit's flights on T3. Also, the leases for the gates in FLL came up for renewal late last year, and one of the goals of the new lease agreements was for the airport to take back some control over the gates and to lower the 'exclusivity' of individual gates - ie, less permanent XYZ airline gates, and more shared gates. Likely part of the reason was to get access to JetBlue's gates for Spirit.

Now Spirit is cheap, so they'll do what's cheapest for them. If it is pulling back the FLL hub for a time rather than pay extra for gate leases (something JetBlue might do), they'll do it. Spirit carries more passengers in and out of FLL than anyone else, so we do have some leverage, which is why I don't believe that Spirit will lose 40% of their gates (and up to 70% of Spirit's FLL access, since we share the customs gates with JetBlue, Avianca, American, and Caribbean) without other airlines feeling the pain too. A 60% pull down of FLL seems a bit drastic - that would allow Southwest, JetBlue, and Delta to make MAJOR inroads on Spirit's dominance in FLL, as Spirit would go from the #1 to the #4 carrier out of FLL. That's a pretty steep hit, especially when you consider that, once the new runway and new T4 are built, Spirit (and everyone else) will have higher usage fees in FLL, currently one of the lowest cost airports to operate out of in the country (vs. MIA, which is one of the most expensive).

Short Bus Drive

Old "Double Tree" in Romulus...

sidestep

I would argue that the primary reason is the ease of Customs access for JB customers. JB just added BOG and KIN from FLL. With Spirit shrinking and JB growing in FLL I don't think Spirit would need any of JB's gates.. Or this is just a set up for a merger?

BillyBaroo

Great news. Which brings me to my next question: Does anyone know a proposed class date for July from the recent postponement?

Plane Ramrod

Merger?
That would be like trying to merge a flea market with a Chuck E Cheese.

captscott26

Ok, I'll admit it. That was funny.

Sailor

LOL, nice mess that would be.

TTOCSMCC

ground cockpit, cockpit ground

Family Guy - Over - YouTube

captscott26

Next class is July 2.