BMEP100

The location of WHQ has little to do with daily operations these days. Maybe it was relevant decades ago when it was established, but Chicago is an economic mess. Many believe the only reason HQ is still there was a political move during the previous Fedgov admin to get the merger through.

Ever wonder why Boeing moved to Chicago? How many planes do they build there?

All other major airline mergers moved their HQ out of the rust belt, to the south.

sweptback

If by all other you mean Northwest, then sure. Every merger that took place located the combined HQ at the location of the current HQ of the surviving airline’s name. I’m sure if we would have taken the Continental name then the HQ would have ended up in Houston, but we didn’t.

And while Chicago has a financial mess on their hands, the problem is pensions. Just like most cities and states, except maybe a bit more visible. Due to the IL constitution, pension benefits cannot be reduced once given, so attempts by the city to change pension benefits (via collective bargaining) were struck down in court. I’m not sure what else can be done short of a constitutional amendment, which would need to come from Springfield.

BMEP100

I'm not sure, but..
Don't forget USAirways (Phl) and AMR (DAL)

On the surface the surviving name would seem to be the determinant, but politics always has a deeper influence when such mergers require Fedgov approval. Passengers who see the name on the plane certainly don't care where the HQ is...if they even know.

Why do you think Boeing moved to ORD? Certainly not for the taxes, climate or labor costs, or scenic view. (Hint...Obama, pentagon contracts)

Similarly, the city of Houston built SWA a new terminal once Cal left Houston, even after city council put on knee pads in the negotiations.

sweptback

Because they wanted their headquarters located in the central part of the US with good air travel options. Seattle at the time was a small regional airport with very little international service.

Boeing also moved their headquarters prior to the Obama administration (easily verified with a Google search), but don't let facts get in the way of your feelings.

awax

BS! Air Travel options? gimme a break. How about $41 million in tax and other incentives over 20 years. Denver and Dallas didn't pony up the dollars, but were finalist. If air travel options were at play, Denver never would have made the list. Follow the money.

As the then CEO said....

Grumble

It’s a simple math problem... that which can not go on, will not go on.

sweptback

Read the third paragraph: https://www.washingtonpost.com/archi...=.2b01f2919de2

CousinEddie

Illinois is the tip of the spear for a national problem, including Texas:

https://www.texasmonthly.com/politics/towering-debts/

For those new to Illinois, here is why it is known as Madiganistan:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgVP3H122nw

Sunvox

To all the ORD lamenters, I admit to suffering from a small amount of Schadenfreude. For those that are not familiar with German, please indulge a moment of explanation. The Germans have a great habit of combining words to make new words and in this case they combined the words for sadness and joy to mean the pleasure one derives from another's unhappiness.

When I was a new hire I inquired as to whether or not we would ever grow New York, and a then senior executive said . . . and I quote . . . "well at United the sun rises and sets in Chicago so I'm gonna say the chances we will grow New York are zero".

I never forgot those words.

Times change . . .

P.S. I live in NY

P.P.S. James, you should know I have 17 days off. My trips are all 2 legs only. I have 80 hrs, AND a layover of 25 hours in Cabo. Methinks your experience on the bus is not like mine.

baseball

So what you're saying is "it's allot like Detroit Michigan 20 years ago."