Originally Posted by
sbm12
DL needs the high-density ASA/Comair gates, too, for those operations, and those are out in D. DL already has all of A & B so that is no big deal, and they don't really need the T gates. I guess they could try to swap UA with NW's gates or something like that, but I don't know that it matters too much.
DL needs the widebody gates on T. As it stands, E is full during the afternoon international rush, A gets pretty full for the 767 gates there (there are only 6-7 gates on A that can handle the 767, and B can't take them now), while T gives them 5 additional widebody gates (some of which are already being used for international departures).
The other big thing with T is convenience - no need to take the tram. AA won't move off of them - they've got the ultimate setup in Atlanta. The north security checkpoint is often a lot shorter than the main checkpoint, AA is the first carrier there, and they've got their own baggage claim area - they use the old international baggage claim now, away from everyone else.
Best hope might be to get United to move over to Concourse D - options would include either:
(a) swapping UA/US - both have three gates
(b) swapping UA/DL - Delta would give up the three former NW gates on D, they would take three more T gates. Only thing not great about that for Delta is that these three gates would be a little isolated from the rest of their operation.
(c) trade for the city-owned gates. Most of the south-side D gates are city-owned gates. It's possible UA could trade with Atlanta - give up three gates on T for three of the city gates on D. Frontier, Midwest and Spirit would be the most likely ones to move as a result of this. It would keep AC over on D though for the proposed joint venture.
(d) just stay in their current place and keep the status quo.
Most feasible I see are options A or B. With option B, it at least gives Delta an additional widebody gate, and it could be 2 if they use a MD-88 or 737 at the middle UA gate.