Originally Posted by oldmako

1. We've done nothing but shrink in Denver, it's an expensive airport.

2. We've given a ton of our feed to the RJs.

3. United's RJ end of the concourse is a cramped, noisy, dirty disgrace, much like the F-Con in ORD. We're surely losing passengers to SWA and FRNT as a result.

4. No SWA passenger ever flew on an RJ. And FRNT's Airbi are even more comfortable than a guppy. PAX with no interest in loyalty programs will book a flight on a larger plane ten times before they'll book one on an RJ. I see steady passenger erosion as a result. Color me pessimist.

4. If fuel continues it's wild swings (and why won't it?) then eventually FNRT will succomb to SWA. They have been down to a few days operating cash how many times in the last 5 years?? SWA loves to move in, pick the low lying fruit and position themselves to feast on the carcass. Think BWI. This will allow them to increase their mass and that's not good for UAL/DEN.

5. International flying is best done from cities closer to the coasts. I recall reading that Tilton and Smisek have said that UAL wants to expand international ops. I can't see that in happening in DEN with EWR, IAD, LAX, HOU and SFO next to water, and ORD in the middle. Plus, United used to serve another (tiny) International airport in the New York area which could handle some EWR overflow. Nah...what am I smoking?

I hope I'm wrong. That's just the way I see it. Others smarter than I have already opined on this topic on the old board. Perhaps they will add their two cents.