<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">I alsohappened to moveto BOS right when NWA was building a "secret hub" here. There were 20 , or so, departures to Europe,the Carribean, FL, and SFO,SEA,LAX I have fond memories of the non-stop ORD and DCA,and GLA,LGW,FRA,ORY.....
Even though NWA eventually abandoned BOS,
the loads on the trans-atlantics were very healthy.....almost till the end.
I am a bit foggy as to what NWA aquired at DCA. I have heard hat there was a secret hub there to...but I am not sure of its
focus or scope.
LeSnail [/B]</font>
LeSnail:
As a native Detroiter who first moved to BOS and then on to DCA, I remember fondly both of NW's attempts to establish mini-hubs on the East coast.
As I recall, the BOS-ORD run continued on to SEA; NW also had a BOS-SEA non-stop.
I completed the BOS-AMS trans-Atlantic run several times; I think they still use BOS for some trans-Atlantic.
In DCA, NW acquired gates in the satellite (non-shuttle) terminal in the early '90s. Gate acquisition was/is mandatory to expand at DCA due to its status as a slot controlled airport. My recollection is that these were old Eastern (non-shuttle)gates. I remember completing at least one BOS-DCA non-stop during this time. I'm fairly sure that these additional gates were eventually transferred to CO after NW abandoned the DCA venture.
IP: Thanks for the lengthy history. This is great stuff. I printed out the history for some relaxing reading on my next flight! I remember Republic from my early days flying growing up in Detroit.
If this type of history interests you (or others) there is an excellent magazine called Airways that concentrates on commercial aviation -- past and present. The history of different airlines is a regular feature as are unique elements of the industry and its operations.
http://www.airwaysmag.com/