Originally Posted by
johnso29
Regardless of the state of the auto industry DTW is far too valuable of an airport to pull out of. The runway configuration allows for minimal to almost zero delays. In fact it's rare to even be delayed going to DTW. It usually only happens when the winds swing out of the west & the X-wind limitation for many airplanes begins to be exceeded. You can also reach Asia & Europe non stop. The global position of DTW is invaluable.
I can see MEM, CVG, or even MSP or SLC closing before DTW.
SE Mich has a lot of biz besides the auto industry.
More importantly DTW serves to siphon a lot of connecting UA/AA pax out of ORD from the N and W parts of the country. Originating pax are only part of the story, not to mention the capacity constraint of ORD. If DTW goes away you hand a huge competitive edge to UA/AA.
ATL's nearest major competitive hub is DFW. DTW is to ORD like BOS it to JFK competitively - way too important to let go.