Analyst: UA should de-hub IAD; Cuts UAL rating
Jun 27, 2014, 8:41 pm
#211
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Yes the UA C/D concourses are a dump but how much time do you really spend in them? I fly through Dulles very regularly and can say that the other concourses are all nicely renovated and if you have a layover in excess of 90 minutes just head to the LH lounge in B which is well up to modern standards.
Jun 27, 2014, 8:49 pm
#212
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But UA cutting IAD seems ridiculous. It's an O&D stronghold that would be dumb to give up for nothing.
Jun 27, 2014, 8:58 pm
#213
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AA didn't cut to profitability. AA cut themselves right into bankruptcy.
Jun 27, 2014, 9:02 pm
#214
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Lets see the numbers next month on Wall Street.
DL, AA, WN look good. UA .... let's see.
Perhaps this current CEO has some magic to pull out of his hat?
Time will tell.
Jun 27, 2014, 9:39 pm
#215
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Yes the UA C/D concourses are a dump but how much time do you really spend in them? I fly through Dulles very regularly and can say that the other concourses are all nicely renovated and if you have a layover in excess of 90 minutes just head to the LH lounge in B which is well up to modern standards.
If we assume growth then I can't see how "go with EWR" is an answer given that EWR can't handle its load even now. UA will need another hub in the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic. I don't see what other candidate there is other than IAD.
The popularity of DCA is completely besides the point as "Go with DCA" isn't an answer either because you won't have pax arrive from Frankfurt, London, Brussels, Istanbul etc. at DCA and the long-haul business is a huge part of UA's business. The reason DCA is popular is also the reason it's approaching its ceiling - its location. No major player will turn DCA into a real hub.
And it's not feasible for the region or for any airline to run a "IAD to DCA transfer" operation on a large scale.
Jun 27, 2014, 10:30 pm
#216
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X3.
Exactly. And when that happens, all the anti-Smisek people will be blaming him for that loss of business.
Yes, it is a dump. But people still fly UA out of IAD, so it's obviously not much of a deterrent.
Yes, it is a dump. But people still fly UA out of IAD, so it's obviously not much of a deterrent.
Jun 28, 2014, 8:00 am
#220
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what was the point of the merger
If you close major UA hubs? Surely UA had an international operation at IAD comparable to CO's at Newark with bigger aircraft many of which it has now moved to Jersey.
Last edited by iquitos; Jun 28, 2014 at 1:20 pm
Jun 28, 2014, 8:14 am
#221
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Compared to most US Domestic terminals that have been built in the past decade or so. IAD B terminal is better in my opinion than LAX, EWR, MIA and parts of JFK off the top of my head. If you care about being in a nicer more modern terminal while waiting for your flight just go there to the B concourse and enjoy the LH lounge while you're there. It's a quick and easy train ride from C/D that will take less than 10 minutes.
Personally I minimize the time spent in airports as much as possible, my objective is to get to the airport no more than 45 minutes before departure and keep all layover between 60 and 120 minutes. Given my goals the C/D concourses being a dump doesn't bother me much since often I will spend a matter of minutes in them as I walk up to my already boarding flight and board.
Personally I minimize the time spent in airports as much as possible, my objective is to get to the airport no more than 45 minutes before departure and keep all layover between 60 and 120 minutes. Given my goals the C/D concourses being a dump doesn't bother me much since often I will spend a matter of minutes in them as I walk up to my already boarding flight and board.
Jun 28, 2014, 8:23 am
#222
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Jun 28, 2014, 8:27 am
#223
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Jun 28, 2014, 8:29 am
#224
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Jun 28, 2014, 9:08 am
#225
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The "analyst" is a fool:
http://www.rita.dot.gov/bts/airfares.../table_10.html
So they are advising UA to dump the #3 airfare airport in the country that is also in the top 6 of the O/D markets?
I have a bridge to sell UA too
http://www.rita.dot.gov/bts/airfares.../table_10.html
So they are advising UA to dump the #3 airfare airport in the country that is also in the top 6 of the O/D markets?
I have a bridge to sell UA too