Hub Closure Sweepstakes

[RJcasualty]

Based on what the other merged legacies have done with their hubs--- most recently UAL to CLE, what are the chances of AAL's post-merger existing hubs remaining intact?  If the criteria is profitability, which post-merge AAL hub is the least profitable?

 

[johnny kat]

This is a touchy subject but I think if the past is any indication... the new management will give it a couple of years and then proceed to cut STL, BOS, SFO, PHX, and RDU. AA/US will have no problem cutting until they get it right. It is common practice at US to just deadhead crews from other bases to fly int'l routes out of other cities...PHL-CLT-CDG for example. So I can easily see where the RDU-LHR will originate in CLT with a dead head and any BOS with a dead head out of JFK or PHL.

 

[jimntx]

No, the LHR-RDU flight will not move to CLT. It is subsidized by a major pharmaceutical company which is located in the Research Triangle and London. They like the flight leaving from RDU just fine.

 

[johnny kat]

I never said the flight would be scrubbed. But the crew may very well be dead headed over from CLT to work the trip. So the chance of RDU remaining as a small crew base is remote.

 

[737823]

I never said the flight would be scrubbed. But the crew may very well be dead headed over from CLT to work the trip. So the chance of RDU remaining as a small crew base is remote.

RDU-I covers AA 174/173 and some international MIA flying. My recent MIA-LHR flight was operated with "Miami and Raleigh-Durham based flight attendants"

Josh

 

[jimntx]

Lord knows the RDU airport is nicer than CLT. Maybe CLT will close and RDU become the Southeastern hub. (That makes just as much sense as people on here speculating on things over which none of us has any control. And, since we are not privy to the backroom deals that are made between cities and the airlines, we have no way of knowing anything other than DFW and ORD are highly unlikely to be closed. Especially DFW, since DP has already spent the money to move here.)

 

[johnny kat]

Thanks for info. I don't know how AA staffs flights, I am only familiar with the US way.

 

[700UW]

Parker and Kirby on the the conference call that CLT will grow to 700 flights with new cities added.

 

[737823]

Thanks for info. I don't know how AA staffs flights, I am only familiar with the US way.

AA bases:

BOS & BOS-I
DCA
DFW & IDF
LGA/JFK
LAX & LAX-I
MIA & IMA
ORD & IOR
SFO
STL

International is overwater flying but all F/As are set to be qualified for international (this was part of restructuring agreement, nothing to do with merger)

Many flights these days have mixed crews from around the system.

Josh

 

[737823]

Lord knows the RDU airport is nicer than CLT. Maybe CLT will close and RDU become the Southeastern hub. (That makes just as much sense as people on here speculating on things over which none of us has any control. And, since we are not privy to the backroom deals that are made between cities and the airlines, we have no way of knowing anything other than DFW and ORD are highly unlikely to be closed. Especially DFW, since DP has already spent the money to move here.)

True dat, RDU is much nicer both facilities and as a place to visit. Great restaurants, nice people, art museum, Duke campus.

Josh

 

[LD3]

 

True dat, RDU is much nicer both facilities and as a place to visit. Great restaurants, nice people, art museum, Duke campus.

Josh

 
Nice, typical you enjoying US people losing their jobs....I highly doubt RDU could even come close to offer AA the low operating costs that US enjoys in CLT. I believe that US's profit sharing check was close to 18 Mil this year in CLT...

 

[737823]

Nice, typical you enjoying US people losing their jobs....I highly doubt RDU could even come close to offer AA the low operating costs that US enjoys in CLT. I believe that US's profit sharing check was close to 18 Mil this year in CLT...

Indicate where I said RDU would be a hub and that I take joy in US people losing their jobs? I never said that much nor do I feel that way. I simply stated my preference for the RDU airport and Raleigh-Durham area over Charlotte and CLT airport.

Josh

 

[700UW]

RDU is so good that AA closed the hub there years ago.
 
CLT is constantly improving the facility and US is adding flights per Parker and Kirby on the earnings conference call.
 
http://charmeck.org/city/charlotte/airport/pages/clt2015.aspx
 
 
The landscape of Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) is changing. After years of planning and hard work, renderings will soon transform into concrete and steel. When completed, CLT will look very different than it does today and use more modern and efficient technology to meet customers’ needs and expectations.

In 2010, CLT passenger numbers increased 10 percent, the highest among airports, throughout the nation. This growing trend has continued with a record of 41.23 million travelers visiting the Airport in 2012.

The CLT 2015 development program includes various expansion projects necessary to accommodate current and future passenger growth. Additionally, the construction program will modify the Airport’s entrance and parking and access to the terminal. Construction projects will be implemented in various phases, some are currently underway while others are scheduled to begin within the next few years.
 
CLT 2015 Projects
New Hourly Parking Deck and Rental Car Facility
Airport Entrance Road
Roadway Dynamic Signage Package
Charlotte Regional Intermodal Facility at CLT
Checked Baggage In-Line System
Terminal Eastside Expansion: Food Court
Terminal Curbside Roadway Expansion


Additional Active Projects
Taxiway D South Extension
Terminal Westside Expansion


Upcoming Construction Projects
Business Valet Deck II
Terminal Ramp Expansion (West) I
Concourse A Annex
Concourse B
Concourse E


Future Proposed Projects
Terminal Lobby Expansion
Fourth Parallel Runway
International Terminal


Completed Projects
Terminal Eastside Expansion


Below are high resolution pictures available for use. To save an image, click on it and wait for the larger image to load. After loading, right click and select “Save Image As” (or "Save Picture As").

CLT 2015 PROJECTS 

New Hourly Parking Deck and Rental Car Facility

Status:

Active

Description:

Construction of the new Hourly Parking Deck and Rental Car Facility is underway. The project will be constructed in two phases and replace the two hourly parking decks that were located in front of the terminal building. When complete, the new seven-level deck will house all rental car facilities and contain 7,000 parking spaces. Of those spaces, 4,000 will be dedicated to hourly parking. Rental car facilities will be located on the bottom three levels of the new deck. For the first time at CLT, passengers will be able to access rental cars within walking distance of the terminal.

Phase one is already underway and will result in the construction of the back portion of the new deck. This is expected to be complete in June 2013.

In January 2013, phase two of the project began with the demolition of the West Hourly Parking Deck and continued construction of the new deck. This phase is expected to be complete in November 2014.

Before phase two began, the Queen Charlotte statue was temporarily relocated to the courtyard between the Daily East and West Parking Decks. The statue, and its associated story boards, will remain there until the completion of the Terminal Curbside Roadway and Lobby Expansion projects.

Passengers will be required to use Airport shuttles to access the terminal from the Daily parking decks.

Duration:

36 months

Milestones:

Construction began in January 2012
West Hourly demolition began January 2013
East Hourly demolition began March 2013
Construction complete November 2014
Rental Car operations begin November 2014

Cost:

$120,000,000

Funding Source:

2011 GARBS
CFC Bonds

 

[737823]

When my cousin was at Duke I took Eagle to RDU had a smooth experience every time, the new terminal is awesome, agents are nice to me, rental cars are convenient. Can't say the same about CLT.

Josh

 

[eolesen]

What does preferring one airport over another have to do with the potential closing of a hub?... I love the convenience of MDW but don't expect ORD to close anytime soon...

The CLE hub has been on borrowed time since the merger. Why anyone is shocked is amusing.

I suspect you'll see some changes at all the hubs over time, but nothing on the order of what UA has to do with CLE, or what DL did with MEM. There's just not a reasonable parallel (small regional hub built largely around RJ's).