Passenger Trains > Manchester, NH airport spokesperson

On the radio this morning the head of the Manchester airport was on the air.  He stated at business is back to 40% of pre-COVID levels and rising.

Meanwhile, over at Amtrak...the cuts loom.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/21/20 07:41 by Chessie1963.

Chessie1963 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> On the radio this morning the head of the
> Manchester airport was on the air.  He stated at
> business is back to 40% of pre-COVID levels and
> rising.
>
> Meanwhile, over at Amtrak...the cuts loom.

When the amount of traffic you normally handle is small it doesn't take much to make it to 40%.
Now, is JFK or LAX back at 40%. Nope, they're far from it.

I think the point is the airport is improving but Amtrak route is at zero.  If passengers  would have rode Amtrak and found other ways are they that likely to come back.
As long as California and New York stay in a semi lockdown scenario battling over who has the lower rates perr 100,000 or who is doing a better job, travel will not likely return.


Bob

I tend to think that Manchester NH airport (MHT) is liked because it is easy to reach, not confusing, no traffic jams, and not even any tolls unless you're coming from Concord and north ($1.00). Having dropped friends off here and picked them up who are doing non-business travel, and observing other passengers, my guess is that non-business travel through there is a high percentage. This would align with the fact that LD Amtrak service has suffered less than corridor service.

Chessie1963 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> On the radio this morning the head of the
> Manchester airport was on the air.  He stated at
> business is back to 40% of pre-COVID levels and
> rising.
>
> Meanwhile, over at Amtrak...the cuts loom.

Really, this quote is meaningless without the context of where the traffic is going, and what the travel mix is. If you listen to what American Airlines has said, for example, their traffic has been largely leisure and broadly comprised of customers traveling on basic economy fares. Beyond this, these are largely customers who’ve not flown before, or at least not flown American.

Comparing August ‘20 to ‘19, seats produced at MHT across all airlines is down ~48%. The more important information is what the forward schedule looks like as it will track demand. September ‘20 vs. ‘19 is ~59% down. October the cuts are even deeper at 62.6% lower in ‘20 vs. ‘19. What’s our for sale for November is not a “real” schedule, so comparison is worthless. Also of interest, only 5 of the 12 pre-Covid destinations are flown.

What’s it mean? Traffic isn’t coming back with any significant growth rate, and the traffic that is out there is leisure and highly fare sensitive. Amtrak will be seeing very much the same demand dynamics.

Posted from iPhone

Exactly my point.

It is not that small as far as airports go.  A lot of Boston folks, particularly north of town, use it because it is easier and parking is cheap.

Amtrak needs to keep trains running, but I have little faith in the company's "leadership."

PRSL-recall Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I tend to think that Manchester NH airport (MHT)
> is liked because it is easy to reach, not
> confusing, no traffic jams, and not even any tolls
> unless you're coming from Concord and north
> ($1.00). Having dropped friends off here and
> picked them up who are doing non-business travel,
> and observing other passengers, my guess is that
> non-business travel through there is a high
> percentage. This would align with the fact that LD
> Amtrak service has suffered less than corridor
> service.

You cannot carry people without a vehicle.  The airlines recongize this fact.

Amtrak does not.  

Folks, why do you defend Amtrak and over analyze everything that is critical of Amtrak?  It is a pathetic company due to inept leadership.  I am done apologizing for Amtrak.  It is time to make noise and bring real change to the rails.  

And no, that is NOT a political statement. 


jcoons Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Chessie1963 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > On the radio this morning the head of the
> > Manchester airport was on the air.  He stated
> at
> > business is back to 40% of pre-COVID levels and
> > rising.
> >
> > Meanwhile, over at Amtrak...the cuts loom.
>
> Really, this quote is meaningless without the
> context of where the traffic is going, and what
> the travel mix is. If you listen to what American
> Airlines has said, for example, their traffic has
> been largely leisure and broadly comprised of
> customers traveling on basic economy fares. Beyond
> this, these are largely customers who’ve not
> flown before, or at least not flown American.
>
> Comparing August ‘20 to ‘19, seats produced at
> MHT across all airlines is down ~48%. The more
> important information is what the forward schedule
> looks like as it will track demand. September
> ‘20 vs. ‘19 is ~59% down. October the cuts are
> even deeper at 62.6% lower in ‘20 vs. ‘19.
> What’s our for sale for November is not a
> “real” schedule, so comparison is worthless.
> Also of interest, only 5 of the 12 pre-Covid
> destinations are flown.
>
> What’s it mean? Traffic isn’t coming back with
> any significant growth rate, and the traffic that
> is out there is leisure and highly fare sensitive.
> Amtrak will be seeing very much the same demand
> dynamics.
>
> Posted from iPhone

Chessie1963 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Exactly my point.
>
> It is not that small as far as airports go.  A
> lot of Boston folks, particularly north of town,
> use it because it is easier and parking is cheap.
>
> Amtrak needs to keep trains running, but I have
> little faith in the company's "leadershipI

I have flown into MHT several times, even before the new terminal was put up.  Very convenient, but always more expensive than BOS.  And if you're coming from any longer distance, there's always a change at a hub somewhere on the way.