Originally Posted by
Antarius
In most cases, I agree. But IAD has been a frequent underperformer, so it's been chopped from hubs before.
IAD is the US version of NRT or YMX. You only use it if you can't fly to the other airport.
I'm wouldn't say that. For a lot of people, IAD is much closer than is DCA and they base their preferences on the proximity factor. NRT is well out in Chiba prefecture - a good 45 miles west of the heart of Tokyo Dulles is a little more than half that (27 miles from downtown DC) but has some significant development around it.
Closer comparison is probably Midway versus Ohare or Hobby versus IAH.
Mirabel might as well be on Mars as far as Montreal is concerned.