No doubt. With the new United having a significant hub presence on the east, west, north and south borders of the US, the future of DEN as a hub is probably already determined somewhere in the halls of Willis Tower.

Additionally, the two guys running marketing and flight ops respectively (Jim Compton and Fred Abbott) have never been shy about optimizing segments, equipment and routing. Out of IAH, we've been doing DEN-SEA, DEN-FLL, and DEN-EWR for a month or so in 737-800/900 equipment. There may be other hub segments through DEN. I'm just not aware of them.

When one additionally considers that legacy carriers have been ceding domestic market share to low fare/small jet carriers for years, the future of DEN will probably not be as one remembers the past, unfortunately.

Why hire those guys? Just contract for more RJ flying and they can stay there!

Plus they would have to give up too much in pay and seniority.

So copy this post down and put it in your wallet 'cuz I'll bet you 3 beers and a dinner that come 2015 Denver will still be a hub for 3 reasons:

1) UAL invested billions and the payoff doesn't work unless you stay.
2) SWA and Frontier are VERY active in that market
3) As UAL controls more than 80% market share the yields are good.

So like I said take this post and copy it and if we fly together in 2015 and I'm wrong dinner and drinks are on me ;)

Joe Peck
UAL IADFO-76/75

It may still be a hub, I don't disagree with that. It just might lack the "gravitas" that it has had in the past...especially if we consider your number 2 and the "full compass" US coast influence the new United now has.

I'll buy no matter the outcome. It'll have to be earlier than 2015 though...I'm already "gummin" and 2015 is closer to 70 than 60. Ditto;)

I'd tend to agree, especially since Frontier is bleeding money right now and they are already mentioning "efficiency initiatives" to turn around the operation. Bedford's great experiment is going to come at the cost to the employees.