Originally Posted by
pbarnette
I've already made my argument about how the numbers absolutely do not support the claim that CLE is a major O/D market in the merger thread. I honestly don't understand why the 30-something biggest market in the US, a market that is, frankly, the butt of jokes due to years of economic downturn and de-population, and a market with no more traffic than KC suddenly qualifies as so important that it will meet a different fate than PIT.
Ummm... for the umpteenth time we get it. CLE should be happy with it's current unwarranted status as a hub and if things don't work out for it at merger time we won't come blame you.
I think we can all agree that the population of CLE isn't NYC or CHI or WAS. But what CLE does have that those cities don't have is an airport capable of growth. Now, are all airlines looking to grow today? No. But today isn't 5-10 years from now. I just don't think they can solely look at next year or the year after. At some point all companies want to grow - it's in their dna. Do they need all of their hubs to have room for growth - no. Would it be smart to have ONE hub capable of growth - yeah.
Just my two cents and I reserve the right to be wrong.