Originally Posted by Ripinpeace

ATL is consistently rated as a top tier airport in the USA and high customer satisfaction - any generic Google search “best U.S. airports” will reveal that.

No airport in the world can do what ATL does. That’s why DL has been burying everyone else for years - and it’s not likely to change. United’s hubs have great O&D but they are not immune to their weakness & aren’t doing anything revolutionary to change it: UA’s hubs terminals are rated some of the most “mid” and worst in the country EWR and ORD are awful. DEN, IAH, and IAD are very dated.. SFO is their best experience. Delta’s SLC, DTW, LGA, and BOS are rated much higher - objectively.

United’s domestic network is the weakest of the US3, face high competition in every hub region, has no fortress hub like ATL & DFW which are proven to be the cash cows that support new developments like Delta’s broad P2P network, new hubs like BOS and SEA in recent years, and grow even AUS or RDU into something larger.

Delta’s has more & higher value revenue streams/partnerships: oil refinery, AMEX, and lucrative JV system. 40 WB AB’s, potentially 60-70 787’s by EOY all on order and a ton of NB’s are are all set to be delivered before United see’s the anywhere near the end of their list. New IFE’s, interiors, Delta One seat on the 35K, and new long-haul routes are being added every couple months. Lots of bigger planes on the horizon and many non-hub airports Delta is leading in.. UA, again, is growing fast but not doing anything revolutionary or different.. EOY 25’ I guarantee they’ll be #2 again, and the years following.