Originally Posted by
Seat 1F
I do stand by my assertion that I feel Delta is over-exposed to network operational issues more than other carriers because of their over-reliance on the ATL hub versus DL's other interior hubs (SLC/MSP/DTW). I do not include the hubs at JFK/LGA/LAX/SEA as part of this discussion as they serve different purposes than the mid-continent hubs.
Heres where I’ll challenge your thoughts a little. I don’t think of ATL as an “interior hub.” ATL is only ~150 miles from the Atlantic. Yet because of the geography of the eastern seaboard, it’s also west of Detroit. So for people flying along the east coast, it’s in the general vicinity of a straight line between Florida and anything from Chicago to Boston. That’s a huge catchment area. So it’s not different than the coastal hubs you dismissed.
Then transcon. LAX-DCA is equidistant via ORD and ATL. Same for other cities like OKC.
Certibus paribus, ATL also is geographically equivalent to an eastern midcon airport as well.
This isn’t meant to argue with any of your other points… only to reinforce why ATL is attractive as a hub vs some other locations that have been used as hubs in the past.