Future of Cleveland-Hopkins Airport (Cincinnati, Newark: 2015, money, businesses)

[theguyfrompluto]

What is the airlines future? Will united cut flights from Cleveland? It happened at St Louis, Cincinnati, and Pittsburgh.

[Cleverfield]

Originally Posted by theguyfrompluto

What is the airlines future? Will united cut flights from Cleveland? It happened at St Louis, Cincinnati, and Pittsburgh.

I don't think so. Cleveland is an important startegic hub between New York and Chicago. The busiest air traffic corridor in the country flies right over Cleveland. The airport has recently undergone a huge amount of upgrades and improvements, which will also help keep the United hub. But, of course you never know with big businesses like Airlines, I could be completely wrong.

[Cleveland_Collector]

Actually, the latest pending merger (US Air and American) probably clogs O'Hare even more than it already is. That may force more connections to CLE. We shall see.

[zman63]

I see cleveland maintaining its status. The city is on the verge of a turnaround.

[Kamms]

Originally Posted by Cleverfield

I don't think so. Cleveland is an important startegic hub between New York and Chicago. The busiest air traffic corridor in the country flies right over Cleveland. The airport has recently undergone a huge amount of upgrades and improvements, which will also help keep the United hub. But, of course you never know with big businesses like Airlines, I could be completely wrong.

Cleveland's always been a strategic hub between NY and CHI with the busiest air traffic corridor flying right over head. This will not protect Cleveland's United Hub however. United pulled out of Cleveland before, it can do it again. The busiest air traffic corridor is because of its location and not flights out of Cleveland. The way to protect its United hub is for NE Ohio companies and people supporting it. Pittsburgh spent billions upgrading its U.S. Air hub...closed!

[Cleveland_Collector]

One of the smarter things CLE ever did was not sell its soul to the Continental corporate terrorists like Pittsburhg did for US Air. The airport would be a billion+ $$$ in the hole with nothing to show for it. The incremental improvement plans are a much more sane and fiscally sound approach. As it sits, Hopkins is an above average mid-market airport that is suitable to handle enough passengers to be viable as a hub in the 10-15 million per year range. For the foreseeable future, that is all it will ever need to be. If United pulls its hub, so be it. Another airline (likely Southwest) will fill the void as NEO is far too large of a market to ignore and Hopkins is the only airport in a 150 mile radius that is large enough to handle the travel demands.

[Kamms]

Originally Posted by Cleveland_Collector

One of the smarter things CLE ever did was not sell its soul to the Continental corporate terrorists like Pittsburhg did for US Air. The airport would be a billion+ $$$ in the hole with nothing to show for it. The incremental improvement plans are a much more sane and fiscally sound approach. As it sits, Hopkins is an above average mid-market airport that is suitable to handle enough passengers to be viable as a hub in the 10-15 million per year range. For the foreseeable future, that is all it will ever need to be. If United pulls its hub, so be it. Another airline (likely Southwest) will fill the void as NEO is far too large of a market to ignore and Hopkins is the only airport in a 150 mile radius that is large enough to handle the travel demands.

I would prefer more of Southwest Airlines presence than United; maybe a better general balanced mix of airlines anyway that would not cause the disasters like Pittsburgh and Cincinnati.

[Urban Peasant]

Has there been any talk of increasing the number of international airlines flying to and from Hopkins? Right now, the hot markets are over in East Asia (China, Korea, etc). Increase of direct flights to such locations will likely help business.

[Cleveland_Collector]

Unfortunately, the flights are driven by demand (as is just about everything). Supply side economics doesn't work as increased supply doesn't always result in increased demand. Up until about 2 years ago, the industry was essentially flat for over a decade (I know, it depends on who crunches the data). However, most agree that there has been an uptick since 2010-11 and that, barring any economic calamities, the industry demand will grow by 30% over the next 3-4 years. If that happens, I would expect to see overseas flights added back to CLE if it remains a hub for United. It all depends on the saturation at Newark and O'Hare, basically. There is a fair chance of it. United is supposed to hold its annual shareholders meeting in Cleveland this summer. My guess is that we'll hear more then as United's commitment currently extends through 2015 and CLE is in a constant state of meaningful upgrade. Probably a reasonable precursor to what is in the works is the brand new, state-of-the-art ATC tower which is supposed to go online in 2015. It will increase visibility and, with its new tracking system, allow for greater throughput. We shall see.

[mjs1987]

Cleveland has done well for itself in recent years. It has so far escaped the fate of Cincy, Memphis, St Louis, and Pittsburgh. However, Cleveland has several issues. In a year or two, the agreement with United and the city to maintain the hub will be up. What happens after that is anyone's guess.

The Cleveland hub is very heavy on 50 seat regional jets. Industry wide these planes are being gradually phased out. Mid sized cities have trouble supporting hubs with larger aircraft. This is coupled with an industry focus on international flights. Cleveland is a domestic hub in a time where hubs with long haul flying are where the big money is for the airlines.

Newark and Chicago may be busy airports but they are major markets that have a lot more high yielding business and international travelers. Most of the potential flying lost from Cleveland wont be shifted anywhere. It will simply go away. Other than a few adds here and there, there wont be many airlines wanting to fly to all the smaller cities that United flies to on smaller planes. The larger markets that currently do well from Cleveland with local traffic will likely retain United service regardless of what happens to the regional flying.

Memphis thought they would be a reliever hub for Atlanta in the post merger Delta Airlines. Delta didnt need or want two hubs so close together. I wouldnt count on Cleveland expanding as a reliever hub. The most likely future for Cleveland is as a focus city for United with reduced regional flying.