Guest Blogger Rusty
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ORH in 2024
The Bad
Well, if you were looking to travel to Worcester throughout the holidays, you would have been disappointed unless you were coming from Orlando or Fort Lauderdale. For some reason, Delta and American halted their once-daily service to New York City during the busiest travel season of the year, which tells you all you need to know about their commitment to ORH. Both are set to resume this Sunday, January 7. However, JetBlue’s service is set to drop to five weekly flights again until March, another tell-tale sign as the airline does not do that in other cities.
Worcester, in 2023, somehow managed to take a slight step back from what was set on the table in 2022. ORH went from 5 daily flights to as low as two many days. JetBlue terminated their twice-daily service to JFK, eliminating by far the most convenient and reliable option for connecting travelers and delivering a blow to the developing market.
The most disappointing component of this was the smoke-and-mirrors show that Massport and JetBlue collaborated on, trying to disguise this as the launching of a new service. The JFK termination was never formally announced, but service to Orlando was met with “excitement.” Fort Myers was also promoted, but in typical fashion, with the least amount of investment you can imagine. The service is Allegiant-like twice-weekly until March, also unheard of for JetBlue. The flights move daily for a whopping month in March before terminating for the season.
“It’s All About the Money.”
You can see why American and Delta halted the service during the holidays. Since capacity increased, they could use those aircraft to make more money elsewhere, as to say the flights to a hub have been mediocre at best and certainly unprofitable. Usually half-full, there have yet to be reasonab faith efforts to improve the reliability and consistency these flights should offer. Since JFK was terminated, no late arrivals turn into early departures (which was, for the most part, successful with JetBlue), a crucial element of connecting traffic.
The Good
There are positives. Since implementing the CAT-III landing system, the connecting flights have operated significantly more reliably than in years past. Despite being unable to use the system to its total capacity, the CAT III system allows the regional jets to approach much lower minimums (a.k.a. better) than before, providing Worcester travelers with a safe and convenient option.
Also, JetBlue upgauged the Florida flights to Airbus A320 aircraft, something that those following the aviation community in Worcester have been arguing for years. The flights were always packed on Embraer 190s, and with them reaching the end of their useful life, Worcester more than earned this upgrade in service. Anyone who remembers the Embraer 190s to Florida was often cramped and outfitted with TVs that may or may not have worked.
2024 Objectives
Let’s hope we see some signs of life that Massport is investing in growing ORH. Things could be far worse; without Massport, none of this would be possible. JetBlue was a pipedream before they stepped into the picture over a decade ago. The CAT III system was an extensive project that gave Worcester a chance to compete, and without Massport, who knows if that would have ever been completed?
The results have been underwhelming at best, and the future of ORH needs to be clarified. We have said for years that New York City is the perfect connection place since it is abundantly clear airlines are unwilling to invest resources In top-tier hubs.
- If you are canceled or stuck in NYC, there are a plethora of options to get back to the Worcester area if you choose not to wait for the rebooked flight.
- You can fly from NYC to literally anywhere in the world.
- Connecting options, while limited due to the inconvenient schedule, are still plentiful and, more importantly, affordable.
American
One significant variable impacting ORH is the dissolved partnership between American and JetBlue. The flights were moved from Philadelphia to JFK, complementing the JetBlue shuttle service to JFK at the time. This could have been clearer in many ways, mainly because the booking systems did not seamlessly connect to ORH. Sometimes it showed up, sometimes it did not, largely preventable and undoubtedly impacting the flight’s financial performance.
The flight has been around for a while, most months hovering between 25-30% full. We would not be surprised to see these flights shift again at some point, back to Philadelphia or even Charlotte. There is no doubt in the current setup that these flights are yielding negative numbers, and with JFK’s slot system being reeled in, it is unlikely American will add a second flight to make the flights far more feasible.
JetBlue
We wish JFK would come back. The brutal truth in the “new service” is that RSW and MCO were two of several easy connections at JFK, providing twice-daily service with a quick pit stop. Flights out of JFK are plentiful to both cities and on JetBlue’s Mint A321 aircraft, a far more enjoyable experience than the Airbus A320s. The ability of the Embraer 190 to use the CAT III system ensured travelers that they would get to and from Worcester – any delays would be systemic, a.k.a. something you are subject to any time you are traveling, whether connecting or direct.
But it is what it is, and it could be worse. We also can’t deny that direct service is preferable despite limiting travelers looking to span the route map elsewhere. JetBlue is far undershooting Worcester’s market to Fort Myers, so we hope that the service will be expanded for the following winter season. The ultimate goal should be to make Fort Myers year-round something that is well within ORH’s reach.
Delta
The LaGuardia idea is not bad, and with a once-daily flight, it is largely ideally timed. However, without an early-morning departure, you are still mainly limiting the options provided with the service. LaGuardia is a hub for traffic connecting from cities like Bangor, Burlington, Syracuse, etc., to the South and Midwest (LGA has a 1500-nm radius they cannot legally expand past except for Saturdays – also likely why ORH does not have Saturday service.
With a morning departure, early Florida-goers can comfortably connect and still have the rest of the day to spend with Mickey Mouse. Since JetBlue’s two flights are in the evening for most of the year, this would significantly improve the current market. Ideally, this service should be twice daily with a RON option. With a departure before 6 AM, typical for LaGuardia outstations, the flight is not subject to New York City’s slot allocation limitations.
New Service
It is not unfeasible to see a new carrier at ORH. How likely it is, though, is another question. We believe that Allegiant Air would be the next best fit in Worcester. Andy Davis has actually hinted at this in the past on a Channel 3 news interview. However, that was some time ago, and we believe that if Allegiant wanted to, they would have been here by now.
Avelo and Breeze present exciting opportunities. With less-than-daily service, Worcester fits well into what both airlines are trying to do. Avelo is a much better fit as, until recently, Breeze did not have many significant airports in Florida under its belt. Further, looking at what they have done in New Haven, it is hard not to be excited about what they could unlock for Central MA and tap into the Boston area.
Breeze is similar but proceed with caution. The airline is losing money at an alarming rate, and many industry experts are questioning the direction and sustainability of the airline in the long term. Despite being run by David Neeleman, you can see many red flags in how the airline is run. For example, they have yet to establish consistency both operationally (which is also a disaster) and financially, but they are already looking at flying to Europe from Providence. I should mention that none of their aircraft are equipped with Wi-Fi at this time, making for a miserable experience for travelers should it come to fruition.
One exciting prospect is the idea of Southwest. With service to Baltimore (hopefully more than once a day) and maybe a city in Florida, they could immediately impact ORH far more than JetBlue and at a reasonable price point for consumers. Since emerging from COVID, Southwest has primarily focused on funneling much of its traffic through its Baltimore hub, one of the easiest and most reliable places to connect. There is a LOT to like about the idea of Southwest coming to ORH, but not much has been talked about in this regard, so it is essentially a pipe dream.
Anyways, if you made it this far, thanks for reading. We wish you and your family a very happy 2024!!
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4 thoughts on “Guest Blogger Rusty”
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I want to add some data for the Flights we currently have at ORH (the fractions is passengers on the flights over how many seats for the month)
JetBlue to FLL
ORH- FLL: July 4548/5022 (91% full)
August 4188/4698 (89% full)
FLL-ORH:
July: 4619/5022 (92% full)
August: 4330/4860 (89% full)
ORH-MCO (Orlando):
July: 4353/4698 (93% full)
August: 4470/4698 (95% full)
MCO-ORH
July: 4357/4698 (93% full)
August: 4453/4860 (92% full)
These numbers go to show how much Florida is successful for the airport. American’s loads are averaging around 35-40% and Delta a little higher than that but it’s definitely not enough. While Charolette would be a great destination, I think that DCA would be better. American has tried already with 3 destinations: Charolette, Philadelphia, and JFK with none of them living to the potential. Charolette I remember I had a family member fly from New Orleans to ORH with American and Charolette to ORH was the final flight, he had to fly to 2 other airports before Charolette. DCA is the area they really need to go too. Let’s say you can’t make the MCO or FLL flight on JetBlue and have to use American, from DCA they have 6 flights to Orlando and 2 to Fort Lauderdale. Other destinations, they have 5 to Charleston SC, 4 to Tampa, 2 to LAX, 10 to Miami. Philly does compare to it and offers just as many but DCA would still be a better fit because Philadelphia wasn’t the most successful.
In regards to the southwest comment, while Baltimore is a great hub for them, I think Chicago would be a much better fit. Now if southwest were to fly to ORH they wouldn’t go to Chicago and not Baltimore but ORH really needs a flight to a hub in the middle of the country. All of the hubs are great for east coast travel but west coast it’s difficult. I have multiple friends who go out to Vegas and LA for sports tournaments and Worcester isn’t an option unless they make 2-3 stops. Delta to Detroit wouldn’t be bad but that wasn’t the most successful either. Southwest would be a much better fit to do the flight instead.
Unlike stupid Airlines like Southwest who had a meltdown last year, when they over extended their resources starting with weather in their primary cities causing cancellations and delays that domino’d throughout their system, Delta and American took a different approach. They opted to make stretegic cancellations around their respective systems (including ORH) over the holidays to allow for spare aircraft and crews to help recover from the possibility of weather and ATC disruptions with minimal impact.
The issue is that they chose ORH as one of those cities to cancel. That’s because those flights aren’t very popular. AA and DL would do better going to hubs with better leisure connections or even direct to leisure markets, like JetBlue did. Let’s face it, the Worcester business community is not supporting the airport. Yes, the times to LGA and JFK aren’t the best, but the 2 JFK flights were good for JFK destined passengers as well as connections. I don’t blame them for pulling those flights. And I don’t buy into “poor marketing”. The JetBlue flights have been full ever since they came back. It’s the business market flights that are struggling. It’s the business community who needs to step up to the plate if they want airlines to have flights that they want. What has the BUSINESS COMMUNITY done to market and support the airport?
As a frequently flying member of the local business community, I loved being able to use ORH in the past.
Oh our age has essentially made itself useless to me, particularly the loss of the 6 AM daily flight to JFK. FLL is really the only flight that is of any used to be, and that is marginal ORH has intentionally made itself a leisure only destination which limits the traffic.
For example, I need to fly to Fort Meyers later this month and the options at ORH are useless to me. I’m not going to see the Red Sox, I’m going for business and I am forced to use BOS
Pre-Covid. I loved using ORH in the differences in flight price were more than offset by the cost of using Knights Limo or the parking garage is at BOS, let alone the enormous savings of time and the beauty of the convenience.
As Paul noted elsewhere, a direct flight to LAS and DCA we generate huge traffic. LAS hosts conventions every day for every segment of every industry on the planet, especially the United States. Pre-Covid, BeOS had like six daily round-trip flights, and is inching back toward that now. The same for DCA. It’s like a bus schedule. Both of the flights to those destinations that I’ve taken are full or nearly full every single time over many years.
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The business community will step up if you offer business flights. The time savings of loan would factor into every single decision, a business traveler, or their employer would need to make. However, or rage does not seem to want to attract business travelers for some reason. Perhaps the competition with BOS is something that Massport does not want no relief of the congestion and problems at busy BOS days, which seem to be attractive to Massport.
I agree with most of the comments that the airlines commitment to Worcester is not there, and if I had to prognosticate that all three of the airlines service to ORH is a favor to Massport. For every 10 times I fly out I generally can only use ORH 3-4 times. I am a loyal Delta customer(Million Miler/Platinum). Much of it has to do with the later departure, as opposed to a morning departure. Likewise, regardless of sentiment LaGuardia is a rotten connection point that is prone to delay and cancellation. Detroit was infinitely better. Will this change? Perhaps not. Which is a shame. The only plus side was the upgrade to a CRJ900 from a 200. To summarize, early departure, more than one flight a day, and finally service to a different hub.