Flight Is No Longer Profitable

August 8th 2007, Aruba.

ORANJESTAD-Country Manager of American Airlines (AA), Ineke Lampe confirmed that AA will cancel their San Juan –Aruba flight as of December 13th 2007. The lack of demand, and departure delays are the reasons for the cancellation. AA kept a vigilant eye on the number of passengers travelling on the San Juan-Aruba route, and noticed a considerable decline in demand. The route is simply not profitable anymore, said Lampe. It is a situation she laments given the number of years AA has serviced the route. AA has talked often on the delays of their flights departing Aruba for San Juan. Because of the delays many passengers lose their connecting flights in San Juan, adding to the operating costs. Though Puerto Rico is a destination much liked by Arubans for shopping, the demand from Arubafell considerably. At present AA's Miami-Aruba route has become very profitable, demand for Aruba from Miami and vice versa has increased substantially in the last years. In addition to San Juan and Miami, AA has scheduled flights from New York JFK.

unhappy camper here!

andrea

Here as well. Hate Miami connection. Wish we trusted US Air through Charlotte.
Walt

"Vacation is what you make of it, take from it and what you leave behind."

>>> "Wish we trusted US Air through Charlotte."
---- Years back used US Air through Charlotte and Phil a number of times and yes worry I may not make connections. Last 2 years have driven a little extra to take the non-stop out of Dulles on United. It cost a little more both times over US Air fares but worth the peace of mind flying non-stop.

United must be making a bundle on that Dulles flight since it cost me more that going through US Air with connecting flights. But have heard usually all the airlines make $$ on their flights heading down to the islands.

There is always Jet Blue.

Life is funny in NYC, especially on Broad Street. Aruba is my cure!.

Gee, I've been taking that San Juan flight for years if I couldn't get a direct one out of Boston. I always liked that airport - easy to get around and liked their duty free shops.

AA's jet service will be ELIMINATED in mid december.
SJ is still offered as a connection to AUA, but the plane offered seats 64 and is a prop plane, not a jet.
The flight is now over 2 hrs.

So, we still have the option of avoiding Miami and routing to SJ, but then the plane to SJ is not what we are used to.

I have to down a couple of .25 xanax before i fly.
If i had to be on a prop plane, i do not think the doctor would prescribe me the tranq amount that i'd need to be able to sit nice and relax.

again

have a good weekend all

Andrea - I take Alprazolam before I fly. We have never flown anything BUT nonstop to Aruba only because we've always booked early enough. I can't imagine having the trip to get there delayed anymore than the 4 1/2 hours it currently takes. I get SO antsy on the plane, it's horrible. We have friends who flew through San Juan and they said it was very easy to do. It's a shame they won't be offering it anymore.

'Tis certainly ashame that AA uses the ATR 72 - Super ATR on that leg from SJU to AUA. Embraer & Bombardier are both very comfortable jets for their size. I am not sure how much their configuration or comfort has changed since we flew them a few times in 2000, but it wasn't comfortable then and that was only a 40 minute flight. Have since flown Embraer and Bombardier on 2 hour flights and they were more comfortable than the 737 we had grown accustomed to.

Obviously AA is looking at costs when the manufacturer touts the plane as:
"The ATR 72-500 fully meets the customer requirements in a rapidly evolving market and is playing a major role in the growth of regional carriers. It offers:

• The lowest seat-mile costs in its class
• Great efficiency and reliability, key to efficient regional operation"

Reliability in their mind equals cost effective.

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We are also unhappy campers! We are already booked on a flight from Hartford through San Juan to Aruba in February and learned of this change to a prop plane a few days ago! NOT HAPPY! I realize it's a financial decision on the part of AA, but I don't understand why a smaller JET couldn't be used instead.

We have driven to Boston in the past to take the non-stop, but it's much closer and easier for us out of Hartford. (45 minute drive vs. 2 hours to Boston) I guess in the future, we will have to rethink this option, because I am not looking forward to a 2-hour flight in that plane!

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