Originally Posted by
MIDWESTERNFLYER
Finally, there is no where for UA to put a focus city. While AA and DL are usually the
#1 or
#2 of the US3 in large to mid-sized non-hub markets, UA is generally
#2 or
#3 . Plus the most obvious locations are taken:
AUS (DL/WN focus city already)
BNA (DL/WN focus city already)
SJC (AS/WN focus city already)
SAN (AS/WN focus city)
STL (WN focus city)
MCI (WN focus city)
RDU (DL focus city)
CLE, sorry CLE folks, it isn't happening
PDX (AS hub)
I think there's room for more than one airline to have a strong focus city/mini-hub at some airports, as there is at LAX. BOS comes to mind, as do SEA and SAN. And it might make sense to beef up share at airports close to their existing hubs - like AA does at RDU relative to the CLT hub. With that logic, UA might consider gearing up at SAT and AUS relative to the IAH hub, and doing the same at SJC and OAK relative to SFO.
And as for your list of potential focus city airports, what about TPA, IND, PIT, CVG, or even HNL?