Originally Posted by
Kacee
As already noted, Metropolitan Statistical Area measures something completely different. You could look that up as well. Or ask one of the AI engines to explain the difference between a "city" and a "metropolitan statistical area."
I didn't need to ask AI the difference because my mind immediately knew you were using the wrong metric to justify why an airline should/shouldn't expand. You reaffirmed my point that MSA is the more accurate metric in the context of catchment area of an airport and overall economic strength. Claiming the stat that the city population, defined by municipal boundaries which vary widely from one city to another, is 5th largest misses the bigger picture (i.e. MSA).
It's like saying Pittsburgh has only 310,000 people (very small city limit boundaries) while ignoring the other 2.2 million people in the greater PIT MSA.