Originally Posted by
IADCAflyer
The added capacity isn't really added capacity. AA added 14 jetbridges with 14 gates to replace 14 hardstands. So it was a 1:1 trade. That said, the E175 type aircraft could not practicably use a hardstand. Maybe in a pinch, but practically no. I'll add to this the fact that it was announced in an intra-company meeting that AA plans to completely phase out 45/50 seat operations at DCA. So if you have that many more CR7s (the logical replacement for an E145), you may not have as much gate space as you think you got.
Huh? You said the E175 could not use a hardstand (which they never did), but now some are operating into/out of the new terminal. How does that not create additional capacity for mainline AA out of the existing gates? Of course there are still slot restrictions which have not changed, but the new commuter terminal - even if a 1-1 trade off vs 35X - should create additional capacity for AA (since Eagle E17x/CRJ9/7's that never operated on the "hardstands" have been moved to the new terminal) and allow for things like swapping larger aircraft on existing routes - should AA choose to do so.