CLE is a true dehubbing success story!
– only took 4 years to get passenger numbers back to the last year of the hub (wonder how that compares to CVG, PIT, MEM and others?)
– two airlines with local crew bases is a huge benefit
– eviscerated the low fare alternative at CAK thanks to (1) WN killing off FL airports like CAK and instead expanding at CLE plus (2) huge expansion from F9 and some growth from NK, helped in large part by…
– making CPE stupid low so the low fare carriers consolidated at CLE instead of CAK and helped gain new carriers such as…
– Alaska, JetBlue and Aer Lingus
– making sure United was on the hook for all of Concourse D so the city didn’t lose a penny was a stroke of genius. I bet PIT wish it thought of that (although US/AA would have stiffed them in bankruptcy anyway).
– stupid low CPE also gives them a lot of wiggle room to fund the new facility without sending it into the stratosphere.
TL;DR – CLE rocks!!!
Now United, for God’s sake restore the DCA-CLE service, AA is just brutal. Last minute trip booked on Friday for Monday, 3 of the 4 flights were $1,980 round trip. GMAFB.
