Given my friend FWAAA's comments re: CLT in the past, I think (and certainly hope) he's being sarcastic of those so in a hurry to start closing hubs - CLT, ORD, or whichever.

At least partially, CLT can be competitive with bigger airports because it's cost is so low - $10 or more less in PFC per enplaned passenger. That's the equivalent to getting $10 or higher fares since that money goes to the airline instead of the airport - not a huge amount when figured per mile to compare to yield but it makes a difference.

Jim