Originally Posted by
Powderkeg
Never is a long, long time…but we will probably have a CA base sometime just BEFORE never. We put bases where we have the most operations…ONT isn’t even the most serviced city in the state. I see CLE and/or CVG, RDU, CHI coming back, and even SJU being bases before anywhere in a California.
Note: this is usually where somebody will say SJU (or a co-domicile of ORD/MDW “isn’t allowed by the contract”. Don’t listen to them, there is nowhere in the CBA that says the company can’t do this.
Based on what I’ve heard from people in RGS, I wouldn’t be surprised to see both CLE and CVG as bases at some point. Both cities are consistently profitable and will support some modest growth.
The MDW thing is much more tentative. I’ve heard that they are still trying to find consistent profitability as WN has significantly ramped up competition with us there. I also think that if the JBLU/NK thing pans out, along with AA starting to retreat from the domestic market in ORD, competitive market pressures may raise fares significantly in ORD, leaving it a more fertile ground for ULCC in the future. I think it’s possible that we see a Chicago base in the future, but it will be in response to future market conditions allowing more growth - a much more speculative thing than CLE/CVG.