Originally Posted by
LarkSFO
So, while everyone in the FT universe believes UA is shrinking, some even claim to a 'splinter' of their former self, this analyst thinks they are expanding, and to routes/destinations that will be less profitable.
Who is right?
I see a few possibilities:
They are shrinking stupidly.
They are shrinking intelligently / opportunistically.
They are growing stupidly.
They are growing intelligently / opportunistically.
I don't claim to know which of the above is actually what is happening.
Much of human life is a paradox. It is possible that even more of UA is a paradox. I suggest that they might be concurrently growing stupidly and shrinking stupidly.
Growing stupidly in terms of investment in aircraft (while not investing in employees or customer), growing stupidly (some) new markets without regard to tried and true markets, growing stupidly short term profits all the while shrinking stupidly in terms of reputation among (both the so-called HV and casual) customers, shrinking stupidly position in historical markets and shrinking stupidly investment in employees and shrinking stupidly in long term worth.