Originally Posted by pgalore
If US does ever leave Charlotte, I bet that it will be one of the last hubs standing for US anywhere, because this is one of the few airports remaining where US has the monopoly on outgoing/incoming flights, and has to be a cash cow for them.
Plus, as a hub, it doesn't ever have major weather delays like PHL or DCA. PHL will go before Charlotte.
Plus Charlotte has the B of A headquarters, and they have more money to burn on airline tickets than the overall public.
The most valuable asset US has is its presence at DCA and the shuttle. Both UA and AA covet the shuttle and DCA gates (AA especially since UA has the IAD fallback). AA has virtually no DC presence because both is hubs are in the middle of the country. They would love to have a DC presence, especially with a shuttle.
Since it is the most liquid of the airline's assets, could see it going first. DCA, since its the most valuable, will probably be what goes first. They have to unload what people will take, and that is why I envision Charlotte to be safe, especially in the first round of cuts.