3 cities bid on airline center-CLT Info

[700UW]

Story

Charlotte is tight-lipped about its proposal, which it sent to the airline earlier this week. Aviation director Jerry Orr and Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory wouldn't comment on proposed sites for the center, and whether local governments are including any incentives.

North Carolina law allows bids or proposals relating to economic development to stay secret until a deal is struck.

The airline already employs about 5,000 people in Charlotte, the site of its largest hub.

 

[ClueByFour]

North Carolina law allows bids or proposals relating to economic development to stay secret until a deal is struck.

Net result--taxpayers don't know how much of their money Jerry Orr is going to give away until after he gives it away. Brilliant.

 

[nycbusdriver]

I just can't imagine why they didn't consider Philly for this ops center.

:blink:

 

[zethya]

I just can't imagine why they didn't consider Philly for this ops center.

:blink:

Simple. Gov. Rendell asked Philadelphia to stay out of it so Pittsburgh's chances wouldn't be at risk (more than they are anyway). The State is not about to risk playing favorites in a situation whereby 400 (more) jobs would move from Western PA to Eastern PA. Philadelphia was asked if they intended to submit an unsolicited proposal or request they be included in the bidding process - they said no interest.

It will be interesting to see what happens with the PIT-US relationship, if Pittsburgh is not chosen. This would be a very simple "cleansing" opportunity for Parker to pick Pittsburgh and maybe change some of the negative feelings which remain from the de-hubbing. Unfortunately, he has not to date shown any compassion toward PIT as is evidenced from his refusal to consider even a single seasonal 757 flight to Europe.

 

[FCYTravis]

Unfortunately, he has not to date shown any compassion toward PIT as is evidenced from his refusal to consider even a single seasonal 757 flight to Europe.

Bayer's employees take a whopping 800 international trips a year from Pittsburgh. That's not even three pax per day for a year-round flight - from the largest European manufacturer in the area! If Bayer can't even fill a single row of Envoy, who do you expect will fill a 180-seat 757?

The simple fact of the matter is, there aren't enough people in Pittsburgh who want to fly to Europe to make non-stop service profitable on O&D traffic.

Case study. At RDU, the manufacturers in the Raleigh-Durham area got together and basically guaranteed to AA a full-up cargo load and a full-up Business Class cabin on every flight to LGW. Anything over that is pure gravy for American. The result? Daily non-stop service to London from a completely dehubbed (not just focus-citied) smaller market.

Either PIT's business folks sack up and make the same sort of revenue guarantees that RDU made, or stop expecting US to operate overseas service as a charity.