September 05, 2008

Virgin America--NO

My wife just heard on WXLO that Virgin America is coming to ORH. Let me explain, second tier carriers like Casino, Southern Skyways and Myrtle Beach Direct typically do not own their planes, but lease them. Allegiant is the exception and actually own their own plans, although I believe they lease some others.

In the past Myrtle Beach Direct leased planes from JetBlue, but now they are leasing from Virgin America. Makes you wonder why they switched airlines. Maybe someone should call JetBlue and ask them why? Although technically Virgin America planes themselves will be coming to ORH, it is in fact Myrtle Beach Direct.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

According to this morning's telegram, (printed - not on-line), "Direct Air is set to begin low-cost passenger service out of Worcester Regional Airport with three direct flights each week to and from both the Orlando Area and Punta Gorda, Fla, starting Nov 22."

Kinda strange how this never made it to the on-line version, nor did Nemeth's 'silly bloggers' column.

Anonymous said...

I am always very, very leery of a business or maybe even an indivdual who leases things.

Echoing Bill, it sends up all kinds of red flags b/c more often than not leasing is done by those who cannot afford to buy or who dont have the credit worthiness to buy outright.

Car leasing by an individual is a classic example of leasing(renting) a car that often people couldnt afford to buy.

Leasing equipment as a business is always more expensive than buying it out right although the lessor will always tell you, teh lesseee, that leasing is less expensive.

Car salesmen tell prospective buyers that leasing is cheaper , too.........so what does that tell you?

Also keep in mind that often the reason there are planes (used equipment?) availble to lease is b/c there is excess capacity in the business............i.e. these leased planes may have been sitting in Boeing's repo lot if they werent being leased and Boeing figures it's better to lease them for now as opposed to having idle, excess inventory layong around and not generating any cash.

David Z. said...

The link is finally on the T&G website.

http://www.telegram.com/article/20080905/NEWS/809050634/1116

David Z. said...

Myrtle Beach, S.C. service will begin in Spring 2009 along with the Florida cities.

WBJournal link - http://www.wbjournal.com/news41576.html

Anonymous said...

OK folks.......a business person would ask .........why would a commercial airline company buy commercial jets (or lease them) from a manufacturer and then lease them (or re-lease them) to another commercail carrier?

Commercial airlines are in the flying business not the leasing business........2 distinctly different businesses...with 2 distinctly different business models

Maybe they are trying to beat the union.....assuming the lessor co. is unionized?

If I own a constr co with lots of heavy equipment............I dont go and lease my equipment long term to someone who is going to be bidding aganinst me in roadbuilding business.....

Is the decision by the carrier to come to ORH a business decision or was political muscle used to get them here?

Do we have a long term back up plan?

Dare I ask after all the hoopla today ..........why do we need an airport commission, an airport director and a part time airport liason?