Originally Posted by
SSlow
Yeah but you're speaking in terms of outward demand for the locals wanting to leave and visit another part of the country.
Detroit itself is not a destination market that brings people in from all over the country to enjoy whatever it is people do there.
True destination markets (MCO, FLL/MIA, LAS, etc) bring in pax from all over the US and LATAM. DTW brings in people from Michigan returning home from a cruise in Florida.
MCO and LAS are considered low-yield leisure markets. MIA/FLL is a little more mixed.
The most profitable airline hubs are large metros with lots of industry/business travel and a large middle class of travelers who go lots of places, only a few of which are Mickey Mouse and Lost Wages. But in fairness that hasn't yet worked for an ULCC, so for them so far the low yield leisure markets are the best they've got.