Originally Posted by
Freds Ex
I know you're probably just late-night trolling as usual, but I'll bite.
IAH is certainly a dump - what southern region hub for a legacy carrier isn't? - but IAH is certainly not a joke.
Currently IAH is the weakest of the ATL/CLT/DFW/IAH combo but has significantly more potential than ATL. If IAH is over-served, ATL is even more over-served.
The IAH metro is 120% the size of the ATL metro and IAH also has notably better geography for domestic, LatAm, and global connectivity unless you're trying to go to South Africa.
I'd expect IAH to continue to grow at a reasonable rate. Will it ever have the variety of Europe flying that ATL does? no, but you also can't take DL direct from ATL to SYD or AA from CLT to SYD either.
ATL and IAH metro population is only 1 million difference in population. 120%?? 😂 Where on Earth did you get your information? They are, by all means similar sized metros. Are you confusing Houston’s complete lack of zoning laws and infamous sprawl with population size?
If you go by CSA and not MSA, they are actually the exact same size. Except! Atlanta is dominated by one airport and carrier unlike the IAH+HOU combo.
ATL is within a 2hr flight of 80% of the nations population and is on the east coast where “TATL” (ya know by far the most populous region for international travel) travel exists. ATL is immensely much better quipped for domestic and international travel and the route maps reflect that.
DFW is a monster to IAH and ATL over both. If you want to go to SYD (mind you, seasonally since UA can’t support it year round) sure have fun flying out of IAH less than half the year. Houston will continue to grow domestically since United’s domestic network is industry worst and they need to fill it in. Expect more GoJet RJ’s and dilapidated 737/319’s to new exotic destinations like DAB. IAH doesn’t have some magical potential is hasn’t tapped into yet. There’s a reason it’s been treated like garbage by United (next to Guam) and will permanently lag DFW, CLT, MIA, and ATL in virtually all metrics. Always love to see SoFlo cope
