While I’m with you on opening bases and that ATL can be a single point of failure for us, you’d be hard pressed to find a better run operation than Atlanta.

The controllers are top notch, the layout is efficient, and things flow exceptionally well most days. I’ve never waited an 1:20 for takeoff on a VFR day in ATL like I have multiple times in JFK.

 

ATC, ACS, MTC, awesome. 1960s terminals designed around 100 seat DC9s now stuffed with 200 seat planes and standing room only, not so much. The airport is insanely over crowded due to the width, which cannot be fixed. Even on VFR days I remember having to call and get a slot time because arrivals exceeded capacity, and that was 10 years ago!

UAL is going to bury us because our blue eyed wonder is myopic on controlling LEC votes while UAL is planning how future air travel will realistically accommodate more and more required seat miles. The planes need to get bigger or we need more airports, probably both. It’s that’s simple. We are sitting on our hands.

 

Not sure where to begin with this post. You haven't flown to ATL in 10 years?

ATL is the most operationally efficient airport I have ever experienced. And storms/weather **** it up just like any other airport.

There is plenty to gripe about in regards to ATL. But holy **** does it move people and airplanes.

 

Agreed. ATL’s concourses are a miserable passenger experience — on a good day.

 

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.

 

Jesus, have you cometh?

 

Nah I’m just the kool-aid man

 

Exactly right. There's quire a few "We didn't think they'd do that" opportunities for them.

 

Better than JFK and Seattle though. The Seattle A concourse from A6 on and the S gates are fine, the rest of them suck rocks. If you really want a nightmare, go over to Alaska's side (except for N, those are nice).

 

That’s an unusual conspiracy theory. So your premise is that the MEC is intentionally working with the company to restrict new bases because of votes?