[QUOTE=e6bpilot;3977189]
Originally Posted by
SetMCT
This old trope again?
OAK isn't going anywhere. It's our Bay Area anchor. We serve 4 getting ready to be 5 airports in the region that would also make it a great co-terminal if that ever got dusted off. If SWA moved out of that airport, the vacuum would quickly get filled by another operator who would cannibalize SWA customers.
Love that every Texas based SWA pilot has some weird vendetta against the state that probably earns SWA more money than the next 3 biggest states combined. If anything, SAN opening would draw down LAS and LAX. SWA has slowly and silently drawn down LAX departures anyway because it has gotten so expensive to operate out of that particular airport. JetBlue is temporarily squatting on a couple gates since terminal 5 is being rebuilt and the rest are being utilized just enough to keep competitors out.
California has a lot of onerous rules and regulations and a high tax structure, but the biggest, brightest, and best companies still choose to make it their hub, strangely enough. Many of the country's smartest and richest people live there. Until that changes, Southwest will continue to defend their turf there with a vengeance since many of the citizens of that state view Southwest as their high speed transit system.
OAK as a crew base could close without closing the station…and I think SJC has become the anchor, surpassing OAK in RON aircraft or close to it.