NEW YORK -- American Airlines' regional jet service linking New
York with Boston and Washington has a reasonable chance to succeed
even though two airline shuttles and Amtrak are established in
those markets, according to East Coast corporate agencies.
In late September, American Eagle, American's regional
affiliate, began offering 10 roundtrips per weekday between
Boston's Logan and New York's LaGuardia; it was set to add 10
weekday roundtrips earlier this month between LaGuardia and
Washington's Reagan National.
These routes, combined with existing Boston-Washington flights,
are dubbed Business Express by American and will compete with
entrenched shuttle operators Delta and US Airways.
In addition, business travelers on the East Coast who frequently
fly American to Chicago and California are demanding an American
product in the heavily traveled Northeast market, said David Buda,
executive vice president of Tzell Travel in New York.
"The Northeast is already a market fraught with competition, but
American's entry makes sense," Buda said. "Many of American's
customers can't express their loyalty through Delta and US
Airways."
Barbara McInnis, director of industry relations for Boston-based
Garber Travel, said American's service to the Caribbean is well
known in the Boston area, and that local business travelers want
the opportunity to accrue frequent-flyer miles and redeem them for
a leisure flight.
But miles aren't everything. Business travelers want to get from
the curb to the gate quickly. At Logan, Delta and US Airways
operate check-ins dedicated exclusively to shuttle service.
American does not, but McInnis doesn't think it's much of a
factor, given the size of the airline's regional jets compared with
the larger craft used by Delta and US Airways for their shuttle
operations.
"There's only 44 seats on the plane, so I don't think [lacking a
dedicated check-in] will be a detriment to American," McInnis
said.
Paul Metselaar, CEO of World Travel Specialists Group in New
York, said American faces an "uphill battle" in the Northeast but
will attract a plethora of AAdvantage platinum members in the New
York metropolitan area.
"American's offering triple mileage right now, and that helps,"
said Metselaar, adding that his agency will promote the Northeast
service, as American is a preferred supplier.
"We're letting clients know about the product," he said,
claiming WTSG books more Northeast shuttle flights than any other
agency in New York. "We're trying to do the best for our clients
while supporting American."
Buda said Tzell also will market the new service to clients, as
will Stratton Travel Management in Oakland, N.J.
"We do like American; we've enjoyed a great amount of support
from them," said Terry McCabe, president of Stratton Travel. "But
it's the best deal for the client that overrides everything."