Originally Posted by
BlueMoon
The problem with SLC, is that more and more emphasis is being put on international routes and SLC doesn't have the greatest location for that. SLC is good for the ski traffic, relatively short flight to ASE, EGE, and the like. LAX is a better choice to grow for an international presence on the west coast
Have you tried to lease gates at LAX lately? Good luck with that...
With traffic congestion rising at all large cities, it will be harder to consolidate all of your flying at a few large hubs. A really ideal hub needs several things...
- Location, for international launches and regional feed
- Lots of originating traffic (either a large city, or tourist destination)
- Plenty of available gates and arrival capacity.
- Good Wx (most airlines ignore this one)
- Minimal ATC issues.
PHX and LAS are almost perfect hubs...their only slight drawback is that it takes 50 minutes to get "feet wet" for trans-pacific work.
I don't think there will be too much hub consolidation with DAL/NWA other than in the midwest, because all that traffic just won't fit in ATL and LAX. SLC in the west has a lot going for it...it's only competitor might be SEA, but I doubt SEA has the capacity growth potential, and it's Wx probably isn't better than SLC.
Plus if DAL pulls out, someone else will move in to serve the ski country traffic. It would probably be UAL...since SKW owns the gates (in SLC and may outstations) and the airplanes it would just entail a quick trip to the paint shop for the SKW birds. I doubt DAL wants to hand all that to UAL on a silver platter.