Originally Posted by
eponymous_coward
If you have significant operations in the
#1 and
#2 markets on the West Coast,, trying to do
#3 because, um, reasons isn't high on the priority list. UA has zero hubs in the entire Atlantic SE between IAD and IAH, which is a pretty large chunk of US population. If anything they should probably think about something there if they are jonesing for a new hub or focus city. Of course DL is way ahead of them and trying on RDU for size to go with ATL because DL is, well, DL and not UA/AA (who seem fine to just milk their fortress hubs and existing networks instead of trying anything like DL does).
How is DL adding service at RDU any different than UA adding service at SEA? Neither make much sense... except as an additional connection point to allow them to expand without trying to push even more capacity through their main hub. The problem is that SEA isn't a particularly useful connection point from anywhere.
Originally Posted by
evergrn
Also I expressed no illusions about UA turning SEA into a hub or focus city. If UA would add on several more flights a day on select routes, that would help and also it could make sense for UA.
That's pretty much the definition of a focus city.
Seattle's new UA flights are coming at PAE, once the FAA's environmental impact study is complete. The chance of them trying to compete head-to-head with DL and AS is slim to none.