www.CostaRicaTicas.com

O MAN! This'll be GREAT!!!


US-Colombia Frequencies

Order 2008-11-12
OST-2008-0239 - Spirit Air - Allocation of Seven US-Colombia Frequencies Returned by Continental Airlines
OST-2008-0258 - American - Allocation for Seven Weekly Miami-Bogota Frequencies

Issued and Served November 14, 2008

Order to Show Cause Allocation Seven Frequencies to Spirit Airlines

We have tentatively decided to award Spirit the seven frequencies at issue here, along with underlying economic authority, to provide combination services in the Ft. Lauderdale-Medellin market. We also tentatively conclude that the record in this proceeding supports the selection of American for backup authority to the primary award to Spirit.

We tentatively conclude that Spirit’s proposal for the first-ever nonstop Ft. Lauderdale-Medellin service would introduce beneficial competition in the South Florida-Medellin market by establishing first-time U.S.-flag competition with the double-daily Miami-Medellin services of American, while also providing competition with Avianca’s daily Miami-Medellin service. Specifically, Spirit’s proposed service would offer the significant South Florida-Medellin traffic base an attractive alternative option to the existing services of American and Avianca from Miami, providing competition for Medellin traffic between the two airports. In addition, the record indicates that a large population that is geographically located in the vicinity of Ft. Lauderdale could potentially benefit from the availability of more convenient Medellin service from Ft. Lauderdale rather than Miami. Spirit’s proposal would also provide new competition in the overall U.S.-Medellin market, as American and Avianca have long been primarily the only carriers that have offered U.S.-Medellin service. Moreover, an award to Spirit would improve the overall U.S.-Colombia market structure by promoting a wider variety of U.S.-Colombia services, enhancing the competitive stance of a newer entrant carrier against a more established incumbent.

By comparison, American’s proposal, which would add a third daily flight to its already existing twice-daily Miami-Bogota service, offers markedly fewer competitive benefits. Also, while we recognize that the Miami/Ft. Lauderdale-Bogota market is the largest overall U.S.-Colombia O&D market, and that it is larger than the Miami/Ft. Lauderdale-Medellin market, it also currently enjoys far more service. There is also substantially more U.S.-Bogota service available overall, with U.S. and foreign carriers together providing an average of more than 12 daily nonstop flights in the U.S.-Bogota market, as compared to only four daily nonstop U.S.-Medellin flights. In addition, U.S.-Bogota services will soon be increasing to an average of more than 14 flights a day, when Delta institutes its New York (JFK)-Bogota service and JetBlue institutes its Orlando-Bogota service, on or before December 18, 2008 and February 15, 2009, respectively.

We have reviewed American’s arguments concerning its proposed greater capacity and its more extensive connecting services at Miami. However, in this case we have tentatively determined that the valuable competitive benefits of Spirit’s first-ever U.S.-flag competition to American’s Miami-Medellin service, as well as the positive effect that it would have on the overall U.S.-Colombia market structure, outweighs the benefits of adding a third daily flight in a market that already has considerable service, including service to on-line connecting points.

We direct any interested parties having objections to our tentative findings and conclusions set forth in this order and in ordering paragraphs 1 through 2 above, to file their objections in the above-captioned dockets no later than seven calendar days from the date of service of this order; answers thereto shall be filed no later than four calendar days thereafter.

By: Michael Reynolds

_________________
Why settle for just one woman when you can enjoy them all?

Not that you didn't have a lot already but you just made a bunch more friends by reporting this. My personal shout-out to Brother Phoenix Rising! Let's see how they schedule that flight time to integrate with the ACY daily flight. Oh Yeah!

_________________
"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

About time you post something useful.

_________________
[url=http://www.amishrakefight.org/gfy/]

Yeap....as predicted! Spirit goin to MDE starting March 1st

So far the cheapest one way fare I've found is 133 so with 98 bucks taxes and fees you're looking at around 365 which is about what AA has been offering for a month or so now...! Let's not spoil the paisas fellas!!

_________________
Why settle for just one woman when you can enjoy them all?

GOOD THINGS COME TO THOSE WHO WAIT!:

Flight Information:

Fri 17 Apr 2009 705 Fort Lauderdale/Miami Area (FLL)10:45Medellin, Colombia (MDE)13:050

Fri 24 Apr 2009 236 Medellin, Colombia (MDE)14:05Fort Lauderdale/Miami Area (FLL)18:250

Fare & Charge Breakdown:

Fare + FET:146.00
Discounts:-28.00
Travel Taxes and Fees:99.70
------------------
Total Fare Price:217.70

_________________
Why settle for just one woman when you can enjoy them all?

That helps explain why Continental is trying to dump its EWR - BOG flights for $299 R/T.

_________________
Blue Devil

Pura Vida...enjoying life to the fullest...