Has United said anything to the pilots about this? Vis a Vis, size of the base, specific a/c type plans, possible mainline growth vs. turning it in to an RJ base, international growth, maintenance base...etc? Good news for those based there, I guess this puts to bed for a while the rumor that DEN will be slowly shrunk/go the way of Cleveland.
United Airlines commits to Denver International Airport through 2035 - Denver Business Journal
Denver International Airport and United Airlines have reached an agreement to extend the airline’s lease through 2035, alleviating worries about one of the airport’s biggest operators.
The agreement allows DIA to restructure its debt and United to reduce non-gate facilities that it operates at the airport, according to DIA.
Airport officials briefed Denver city council members Tuesday at the council's Business and Development Committee meeting.
DIA officials said the agreement is expected to save DIA's airlines about $45 million through the airport’s debt restructuring.
United is DIA's No. 1 airline by passenger counts. Denver has been a major hub for Chicago-based United for years, but the scale of United’s operations at DIA has been up in the air since the company’s 2010 merger with Continental Airlines.
United announced in February that it would close the former Continental hub in Cleveland. In July, company officials told analysts during a conference call that the company was evaluating its seven remaining hubs, including Denver.
Losing a major airline's hub operations at an airport means losing jobs, and also reduced competition among airlines operating at the hub airport.
When DIA opened on Feb. 28, 1995, United was the only airline to sign a long-term lease. United signed a 30-year lease to expire in 2025, when the original airport bonds will be paid off.
United averages more than 375 daily departures and by the end of 2014 will serve more than 130 destinations, including Panama City and Tokyo. From Denver, the airline flies to more than 120 airports across the United States, including frequent daily service to top business travel markets in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and Houston.