Chip opined:
I saw all of the articles you referenced, however, could these be additional orders? If not than UA could have a huge problem on its hands at IAD and its ability to emerge, unless it eliminates the hub, which the creditor's committee previously requested.
DCAflyer responds: Chip, it seems a bit premature for other regionals to go out buying SJ's until they have a firm commitment from UAL, doesn't it? Regardless, i think UAL already DOES have a huge problem at IAD inasmuch as ACA owns the gate leases. Is this typical procedure for the regionals to own the slots? If so, it doesn't seem like a very bright move since the regionals would have way too much leverage over the mainline carriers. I don't have a lot of confidence that ACA will make it as a LCC, but if they return the slots and WMAA recyles them and leases them to other LCCs, it could be very problematic for U's Washington presence.
USAirways85 asked:
could this some how increase UA's presence in PHL as well as Star's presence at the airport. With UA going to lose all of its regional feed at IAD it will take a lot of effort to find other carriers to fly those routes and it won't all come over night.
DCAflyer responds:
This is an interesting thought to have UAL pull its IAD hub and have STAR feed operate through PHL. I think I would rather see this feed go through PIT, however, making it a STAR feed-point to both U and UAL since the airport infrastructure is underutilized while PHL has capacity and runway issues. I don't think PIT works as a U-only hub anymore, but to make it a STAR Gateway facility would be awesome and I don't think major retrofitting of the facility would be required. Chip, do you know if Dave and Glenn have given any thought to a scenario such as this?
DCAflyer
I saw all of the articles you referenced, however, could these be additional orders? If not than UA could have a huge problem on its hands at IAD and its ability to emerge, unless it eliminates the hub, which the creditor's committee previously requested.
DCAflyer responds: Chip, it seems a bit premature for other regionals to go out buying SJ's until they have a firm commitment from UAL, doesn't it? Regardless, i think UAL already DOES have a huge problem at IAD inasmuch as ACA owns the gate leases. Is this typical procedure for the regionals to own the slots? If so, it doesn't seem like a very bright move since the regionals would have way too much leverage over the mainline carriers. I don't have a lot of confidence that ACA will make it as a LCC, but if they return the slots and WMAA recyles them and leases them to other LCCs, it could be very problematic for U's Washington presence.
USAirways85 asked:
could this some how increase UA's presence in PHL as well as Star's presence at the airport. With UA going to lose all of its regional feed at IAD it will take a lot of effort to find other carriers to fly those routes and it won't all come over night.
DCAflyer responds:
This is an interesting thought to have UAL pull its IAD hub and have STAR feed operate through PHL. I think I would rather see this feed go through PIT, however, making it a STAR feed-point to both U and UAL since the airport infrastructure is underutilized while PHL has capacity and runway issues. I don't think PIT works as a U-only hub anymore, but to make it a STAR Gateway facility would be awesome and I don't think major retrofitting of the facility would be required. Chip, do you know if Dave and Glenn have given any thought to a scenario such as this?
DCAflyer
