I was debating if this belongs in the Delta or NWA board...

If you laid out a map and looked at MSP, DTW, CVG, MEM, ATL, which ones would you keep?

CVG and ATL seem like the clear winners (weather & surrounding feeder cities), either DTW or MSP could be greatly reduced as connecting cities, and I'm not sure if MEM should even be a focus city.

MSP has many large corporations and a large population, but not an ideal connecting airport or surrounding feeder area (major cities within 300 miles: Des Moines, Omaha, Milwaukee)

DTW is a lot like MSP, again many large corporations and a large population, and a little better for a connecting airport with a better surrounding feeder area (major cities within 300 miles: Chicago, Milwaukee, Toronto, Columbus, Cleveland, Indianapolis, Toledo, Fort Wayne, South Bend, Dayton, Akron, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Lansing)

CVG has less large corporations (although still many: P&G, GE, Macys, Kroger, etc) and a smaller concentrated population, but a much better connecting airport (and weather) with a better surrounding feeder area (major cities within 300 miles: See DTW list, but replace Toronto, Milwaukee & Buffalo with Louisville, Lexington, Nashville, Evansville, Peoria, and Chattanooga). With actually many of them falling within 200 miles.

MEM will be lucky to remain a focus city

ATL is most important of them all - if for no other reason than a feeder to FL

Now I know DTW and MSP are way too built up to disappear (and have sustainable local markets), but there's more than a reasonable chance that their trough traffic may be redirected through CVG. If I live in Columbus (or Indy, or maybe even Cleveland) - I'll take CVG over DTW or MSP at least 6 months of the year - flying East or West.