Future of MSP NB base

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03-10-2026 | 04:52 PM

#11

DeltaboundRedux

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From: Enoch Powell Enthusiast

Quote:

Originally Posted by v1rotatay

This is good reading. I'll take a 787 base please and thank you.

Fascinating. Thanks. Great link.

Doesn't seem ambitious enough. 2040? That's an eternity.

SLC literally dumped every terminal it had and built an entirely new airport.

MSP needs the same (It vies for the "most friendly airport" with 20 other airports, kind of like "voted best hamburger in the world.")

MSP is a bit of a mess. Read someone on DL net it has the theoretical "longest walk" for the Delta hubs.

I didn't read the whole summary.

Who's paying for this? I know big-D bankrolled a huge chunk of the SLC expansion.

If this is just taxpayer dollars, it's a jobs program.

03-10-2026 | 05:16 PM

#12

readytoretire

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Quote:

Originally Posted by TOCTOD

Also, genuine question…. aside from a NW legacy base, what does MSP provide that DTW cannot? Real question.

As was said earlier, a lot of local O&D traffic and Fortune 500 companies. DTW made a lot of sense for NW to poach international flying from NYC/New England, but now post merger with our strong NYC hub it's less critical. Add in the weakening US DTW area auto industry it's probably not as important as it was before. But neither is MSP. I've always heard margins in MSP are good but that was really pre-covid.

I recall GH saying he saw the MAX 10 as an ideal MSP/DTW airplane. I hope that is still the thinking in ATL.

Still prefer to retire though...

03-11-2026 | 03:08 AM

#13

Red Swingline

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Quote:

Originally Posted by TOCTOD

Also, genuine question…. aside from a NW legacy base, what does MSP provide that DTW cannot? Real question.

State sick laws. No coincidence that the same staffing questions are being asked about NYC and LAX.

03-11-2026 | 04:13 AM

#14

CX500T

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Delta's new model. You will all be home based. As long as home is Atlanta.

03-11-2026 | 06:16 AM

#15

FangsF15

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Quote:

Originally Posted by CX500T

Delta's new model. You will all be home based. As long as home is Atlanta.

Much like Henry Ford's famous century-old quip about a "customer can have a car painted any color that he wants so long as it is black" 😂

03-11-2026 | 11:59 AM

#16

readytoretire

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And 3 more 737As bid out with no backfill, at least on the mid bid...

03-12-2026 | 06:04 AM

#17

iaflyer

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From: 73N A

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red Swingline

State sick laws. No coincidence that the same staffing questions are being asked about NYC and LAX.

DTW is getting the same state sick in 9 months, so not going to be any different there. IMHO, it's a minor change in cost. Remember, pilots are probably using state sick instead of calling in sick if they can, so I bet it's close to a wash.

03-12-2026 | 06:09 AM

#18

icohftb

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Quote:

Originally Posted by iaflyer

What's the MN State sick law provision?

03-12-2026 | 10:18 AM

#19

iaflyer

seeing the country...

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From: 73N A

Quote:

Originally Posted by icohftb

What's the MN State sick law provision?

I don't know - I'm not MSP based.

03-13-2026 | 06:02 AM

#20

Red Swingline

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Quote:

Originally Posted by iaflyer

IMHO, it's a minor change in cost. Remember, pilots are probably using state sick instead of calling in sick if they can, so I bet it's close to a wash.

Airline management has never been known to trip over dollars to pick up pennies 🙄