As mentioned up thread a FA friend mentioned that CLE as seen new hire FAs sent to it after being a stagnant base for quite a while.

Given the "decent" traffic out of CLE and it's close proximity to ORD and EWR I see slow but steady growth, bit also CLE being used as a place to pilot new ideas without the big hub risk. I don't see much direct flying outside the hubs but I suspect they'll continue to be opportunistic about it

E.g. the Gate Innovation project I mentioned in another thread thread-- today had a UA suit supervising the boarding (though one gate display was showing the flight going to Dulles and the other was showing the flight going to LGA -- same time and flight number so clearly some bugs to work out..