May 29, 2007
US Helicopter behind on rent at Wall Street heliport
U.S. Helicopter, the year-old eight-minute commuter service between Manhattan and two New York-area airports, is behind on its $14,700 monthly rent at the Wall Street heliport and likley missed its annual passenger goals, according to the New York Times.
Among the problems is that passengers are more likley to use the helicopter to the airport but less likley to book a seat to Manhattan. Also, the helicopters can't fly in thick fog or in icy conditions.
US Helicopter operates 325 weekly flights, including the city's only regularly scheduled hourly flights to JFK and Newark Airports -- for about $165 to $175 one way. The company's annual report, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in April, listed only $1.4 million of revenue. The bulk, $987,185, came from charter flights, with only $417,415 derived from scheduled passenger service. NewYorkology asked for precise passenger numbers earlier this month, but was turned down. The New York Times turned to analysts for insight: "U.S. Helicopter is not required to announce passenger figures, it very likely missed its original target of carrying 160,000 customers in its first year, according to industry analysts."
Just a month ago, US Helicopter abruptly announced it was changing its partner airline at JFK to Delta from American, giving its booked passengers no more than a few days notice to make alternate plans. The switch is major, considering a passenger loses all the time savings if he has to switch to a non-partner airline at the airport. (US Helicopter's website says to allow 35 to 40 minutes of connection time for Delta, but 90 minutes for everyone else at JFK.) At Newark, US Helicopter is partnered with Continental. Service to LaGuardia, origianly planned to start in October 2006, is still in the works.
Earlier: US Helicopter swaps JFK partner to Delta from AA
Delays for US Helicopter's LaGuardia shuttle service
May 29, 2007 08:14 AM in Arrivology
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