The base started downsizing for pilots long ago as it was pulled down. It stayed open finally only as a 737 base longer than the company wanted simply due to timing and training constraints. It’s only slightly bigger than CLT today. Maybe Delta should open a pilot base in Charlotte. Credit was very high in the 737 base in CVG the last few years.

 

https://x.com/TanMart03/status/2033039741646729291?s=20 Seems like wishful thinking, SLC-SYD is a bit shorter flying time than JNB-ATL. And a bit lower, doable on the 359 I’d imagine?

 

How big is the Morman population in Australia? Dont underestimate the influence the Church can have on Delta. The SLC hub only came into existence because of the Church.

 

The hub came to Delta because of western. It’s likely stayed in part due to the church, but we inherited it, which you know.

 

We got it when we bought our Western

 

I think the big advantage SLC-SYD has over JNB-ATL is the density altitude equation in the winter. Very likely this would be a northern hemisphere winter seasonal route. That time of year the DA in SLC shouldn’t be too limiting unlike JNB where the same time of year it’s hot.

I am curious to see as SLC continues to expand if it sees more international. It seems like it’s the best west coast airport for expansion and it already supports quite a bit of connecting traffic.

 

Western was in deep financial trouble. The Morman church provided the money to keep them out of Chapter 11. The Denver hub quickly migrated to SLC.

 

I agree it’s out of our hands. But I maintain that we will see a BOS NB base, perhaps even two, within the next 3ish years or sooner.

Whatever JB is doing or not WRT their financial performance, they would be way worse off if they closed either their NYC or BOS pilot domiciles. NYC is mission critical to them and BOS is their absolute crown jewel because it’s one of the best domestic markets anywhere and they wisely ran a pick six when Leo dropped the ball and built the Taj Mullin and abandoned an entire terminal for them to walk in and dominate.

The profit differential between DL and JB has almost nothing to do with DL not having a NB BOS base. It would probably save money and increase reliability a little for DL to have one however there will be some small first year costs associated with a new category however it’s a bit less since the base is already open. But to point to the profits of DL and JB to imply that not having a BOS base for DL is a significant part of that is just silly.

 

This would make sense, and having 45 minutes less fuel to carry will also make a big difference. I wouldn’t even think the flying time would reach 16 hours most days in the winter on SLC-SYD. I even heard rumblings of FCO or BCN from SLC, slowly but surely building up.

 

SLC runway is 12,000 feet, JNB is 14,500. Does anyone have access to planning software that could see how the runway length offsets the density altitude?
When does SLC get a longer runway?