Rumoured VS move from MCO to Sanford

There seem to be rumours that VS are to move their Orlando flights from MCO (McCoy) to SFB (Sanford Orlando).

What would the reaction be to such a move?

Advantages could be:
Cheaper fees.
More room at Sanford, particularly with XL/TravelCity loss.
Perhaps room enough for a clubhouse?
The existing lounge is large/impersonal/busy with B&S.
Quicker processing.

Disadvantages are:
No Hyatt on-site.
Much more spartan facilities.
Less central.
Few connections (for CO codeshare)
No McCoy grill.
No Hyatt!

Whatever they choose, I do hope there will be plenty of notice so appropriate other bookings can be made/cancelled.

This had been rumored before and I was hoping it had been put to bed!

I for one wouldn't be happy and I am sure there would be plenty of others.

Just another push towards the 'dark side'

David [:(]

I would not be happy with this either, given that I always visit the I-Drive area of Orlando & MCO is very convenient for this.

It'll come down to money though - VS already treat pax on this route as second class passengers, so if SFB come up with a competitive price, I'd not be surprised if VS take it.

James

Just thinking about this - wonder if its anything to do with the TCD / Excel flights that Virgin will now be operating [?] and maybe some wires are crossed somewhere.

I would have thought that with sometimes 5 747's coming in daily during the summer, the management at MCO would be fighting for the business given the current conditions everyone is experiencing.

David

Would this move not also affect any US originating traffic (if there's much)?
Also, this would give BA an advantage over VS and they could loose customers.
But I do guess that a fair majority wouldn't care/notice.

kev.

[RichardMannion]

I can see why they would do it, but would put paid to us using VS direct to MCO anymore to be honest. I'd rather go via MIA than go to SFB.

Is SFB really up to dealing with 4/5 Jumbo's a day though? Also for anyone wanting connections there screwed? Another nudge in the direction of BA [:#]

[Darren Wheeler]

Like so many of the rumours going around about VS - Believe it when I see it!!

I have managed 30 minutes from landing to driving away in a rental car at Sanford a few years back which is pretty good going.

However, for me its all about location, location, location. MCO being only 20 minutes drive from Lake Buena Vista and other popular areas is a massive advantage over SFB especially if traffic is busy on the I4 in the centre of Orlando.

SFB has had a lot of investment in recent years but if VS decide to fly there instead it will be a great shame. At the end of the day it may just boil down to where VS can get the biggest bang for their buck.[:?]

[Nottingham Nick]

I agree with Darren. Does anyone know the source of the rumour?
I saw it on the Dudd Dibb, and it mentions a Pilot's forum IIRC.

A link to the source may give an idea of how much credence (if any) to give it.

Nick

What a shock to sign on to. [:O] I already have over a 2hour drive from MCO to my home and a change to Sanford would mean nearly 3 hours, which is too much after a long haul flight for me. I would probably change back to BA to Tampa which is what I used to do before sampling the delights of Upper [:D]
I hope it is just a rumour.....

I've just asked the question on our internal forum so will let you know when I get a reply

I really hope it's just a rumour [n]

I guess we all hope it stays as just a rumour.

Beancounters at VS are looking for every saving (rightly so) but it I feel it is important that the service is not degraded to the point that some chartered services are better.
There must be a clear distinction with VS maintaining the better service.
On the B&S routes there are fewer advantages or distinctions for the additional fares - particularly at airports such as MAN and MCO - to 'downgrade' to SFB would take away one of those advantages imho.

I feel that any purely financial consideration of Sanford must recognise that pax will consider it a major downgrade - and VS will lose revenue as a result.
The posts here and on thedibb seem to confirm that.

It might seem attractive to the beancounters at first sight, but like remote stands at MAN will just lose business and profits far greater than any supposed saving in costs.

Hopefully we will soon get a firm denial from Virgin.

I too hope that virign stay at MCO! Surely MCO will be putting up a fight to keep Virgin! VS arent stupid, they may treat the MCO route as 2nd class but it brings in big buccs and they cant afford to lose customers!

To be honset for me i would be happy with either SFB or MCO as when we go we end up in the Idrive or Kissimee area and although MCO is closer it takes longer to get out wheras SFB is quicker to get out but a longer drive. (Swings and roundabouts or rollercoasters [:)])

I can see though for those that are travelling south of the Orlando area it may present problems and therefroe MIA may be better.

I as others think VA won't really care about pax and will go with whatever is cheapest if this actually is being considered by them.

Having taken over Excel/TCD then the slots at SFB would still be availabe to VA so it may ned up a mixture of arrival airports.

quote:Having taken over Excel/TCD then the slots at SFB would still be availabe to VA so it may ned up a mixture of arrival airports.
Difficult to use both airports - the LGW/MAN aircraft change routes. That would result in expensive positioning flights.

Also much more expensive to maintain two sets of ground personnel.
But there again, I've just seen on thedibb they already are!
But that's only 1 day a week!

I don't see this happening at all. I would imagine it is some kind of horrid rumour due to the takeover of TCD.

MCO will fight tooth and nail to keep VS in place at MCO. They bring in a lot of cash to MCO and dominate the international operations. There is no doubt that VS will be, if there is any truth in this rumour, using the threat of SFB as a bargaining tool.

You also must remember that MCO is suffering at the moment. It has seen its passenger numbers slip domestically and for the first time in a number of years is no longer the number 1 airport in Fl (MIA is again). Internationally speaking though, things for MCO go from strength to strength (increase in VS flights, increase in LH flights etc). I think MCO see the International operations as way to overcome any dip in cashflow from the drop in domestic numbers. Therefore it comes to reason that they will be desprate to keep VS. They also seem to use the international side of the airport as an added bonus to domestic carriers at MCO (eg: saying easy connections to London etc).

I think we also need to remember that SQ currently codeshare on the route with VS and I am sure they will not be very happy about a move to SFB that has no connections to *a airlines.

The cudos of serving MCO over SFB is huge.

I also beleive VS is very aware of the harm that flying to SFB will do to the brand of Virgin. Can you imagine if they switched all operations to LTN in the UK and decided to fly into OAK at SFO? You may laugh but this is what we are discussing happening in Orlando.

I imagine that Disney may have something to say about British passengers then not being able to use the Disney Express coach service and other such related amenities because lets not forget that the vast majority of British passengers at MCO arrive on VS.

I for one will certainly not be flying VS into SFB, it will add over an hour onto my current 2 hour journey. I would much rather fly the dark side into TPA or MCO.

quote:Originally posted by Bill S
But there again, I've just seen on thedibb they already are!
But that's only 1 day a week!


No that link is to a VX flight which I believe is being operated on behalf of Direct Air (an American cheapo charter carrier). VX have signed a wet lease deal for a couple of aircraft to Direct Air for the next year, there was a TR on a.net only a couple of days ago. VX are actively chartering out aircraft to various US Charter Holiday companies.

Link to Orlando Sentinel.

Disney's magical Express contract renewed until 2016 - maybe another nail in this rumour.

David





Edit by mod to shorten link.... Nick

Our commercial team have confirmed that this is indeed just a rumour and there are no plans to move from MCO

Official word from Vs... no plans to move from MCO at present. All just a rumour as suspected!!

[Nottingham Nick]

Thanks, Guys. [y]

Very pleased to hear that!
Thanks to both VB & Joey for that confirmation.

[buns]

Thanks guys[y][y]

buns

quote:Originally posted by JoeyVS
Official word from Vs... no plans to move from MCO at present. All just a rumour as suspected!!


quote:Originally posted by virginboy747
Our commercial team have confirmed that this is indeed just a rumour and there are no plans to move from MCO



Excellent news [y][y]

David