Good point but still not at the same caliber of fail.

I speak from the perspective of an open mind and unbiased opinion

 

I like MSP. But since Captain Vernon Demerest and Mel Bakersfeld retired it's never been the same.

 

MSP was a great airport...in 1965. Now its a classic example of trying to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.

 

Southwest flies out of Terminal 2 so yes it would be incredibly difficult to connect to an rj.

MSP airport has offered to build Delta a $1.3 billion terminal and send all other airlines to Terminal 2.

 

I can think of a few airports that have invested bookoo bucks for an airline. In most cases, it doesn't work out for the airport.

 

I believe the lack of a commitment by Delta for such a project is twofold:

1) Delta would need to empower MAC (Minneapolis Airport Commission) to organize and execute such a project. History has shown an abysmal track record of Minneapolis airport improvements for even the simplest tasks. I imagine that in the eyes of Delta, this would likely lead to a cataclysmic failure of epic proportions unlike anything experienced in the history of the world. At least leaving it as the **** sandwich it is now, Delta keeps that variable quantifiable and in check.

2) Minneapolis will likely see a financial downturn as it has one of the highest corporate tax rates in the country. The number of Fortune 500 companies within the state are dwindling as time passes. My guess is that Delta is taking this into account with the decision to go ahead with the new terminal. They don't want another Cincinnati.

 

MSP is definitely a dated design. There are far worse airports in our network, but there are also many that are far better. MSP has a lot of glitter adorning an inefficient design.

And, god, the bathroom situation is awful. Worst just about anywhere. A fraction of the size needed for such a busy facility. And trying to get kids through them is a nightmare.

What I wouldn't give for a facility as state-of-the-art as DTW, or ATL.

To say that there's no reason to expand because of some kind of inevitable economic downturn is really just specious opinion. There's no sign of that, and great cities tend to attract and retain jobs no matter what. Most studies show that while companies really like extracting tax breaks from municipalities, in the end they locate where they want to locate anyway, whether they get the breaks or not. But by this line of reasoning, I suppose we should give up on SEA, and NYC, and SFO, and the list goes on and on with many thriving communities.

 

The masses see it otherwise.........

http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/news/2016/11/21/msp-airport-bathrooms-voted-best-in-america.html

 

Maybe they're trying to recover from this:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Craig_scandal

 

Ouch! Had to go there didn't you..