Super FLUF :
According to the US DOTs DB1B database, American is the number one carrier in 610 O&D markets, serving 54,388 passengers per day of which 201, or 8,377 daily passengers, can be considered as high-yield passengers where yields are over 30 US cents per available seat mile (ASM), and 65 markets comprising 2,246 daily passengers can be considered ultra high-yield markets where yields are over 50 US cents per available seat mile.
Meanwhile, US Airways has 754 O&D markets carrying 42,283 passengers per day, with 437 of those markets carrying 21,452 high-yield passengers per day, and 158 of those markets carrying 9,390 ultra-high yieldpassengers. What this should do right away is dispel the myth that US Airways does not have a strong O&D base. On the contrary, while American has a lead in overall yields, US Airways actually performs better in terms of dominating markets despite its high fares. It is also important to look at the regional O&D variance. Less than 10% of Americans high-yield markets are in the East Coast, whereas more than 70% of US Airways high-yield markets involve the East Coast.
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Great post! Very factual, I bet even WT enjoyed it. What you just described is why the arguments against a US/AA combination don't hold water. If a tie up occurs and the synergies ramp up the new AA could literally eat Delta's lunch and enjoy United's dessert.
If I were either DL or UA I would be doing my best to purchase US outright or get AA broken into pieces in order to stop the powerhouse before it gets off the ground.