CLT to Open New 25 Gate Int. Terminal in 2011

[tadjr]

With the exception of some of the upstate NY/ and NE cities, you could do the conx via CLT that could be done via PHL without much backtracking in most instances. Even some of the cities that are major connecting flights (MAN with 40-50 MCO customers on many days comes to mind) would be an ideal conx in CLT vs PHL. I dont know how many local people they put on MAN in PHL on any given day, but you'd still be able to get all the Florida cities plus the SE and West from CLT. The cities that have major PHL O&D and not as much conx traffic could stay in PHL and the others could be offered via CLT if they are mostly conx traffic anyway. If LH can do a CLT-MUC run, there must be other cities from CLT that could support a flight or two, even if its a couple times a week.

 

[CLT-Douglas]

If US/UA were to hook up there would be no way that they would be able to get approval to dominate both IAD and DCA. Given the higher domestic O&D stats at DCA over IAD, higher fares, it's close proximity to Washington D.C. and the value of those much desired slots, United would sacrifice IAD to keep DCA a strong focus city and further build upon CLT as it's Southeast mega hub. The ability to have a high frequency of flights with minimal air traffic delays, good weather and low landing fees can offset marginally higher O&D in a more congested, expensive, delay prone area.

 

[LCC_#1]

10 Year Master Plan at CLT

 

[NewHampshire Black Bears]

A new LCC world wide hub at CLT ??
I (reluctantly) Agree................(I'll address the "reluctantly" in a minute)

If DL can operate a combo of ATL/CVG...than why not a CLT/ORD ??????????

I'd Imagine that the city/state....CLT/NC would give the newly merged company.....ANYTHING they wanted/needed.(Think good hwy access as mentioned above)

Now for the "reluctant(s)".

I can Imagine a significant ANNOUNCEMENT(CLT/INTL) as a carrot-on-a-stick used to "Lure" UAL, away from a possible UAL/CO(Indulge me to presume it will be DL/NW) !

Clear thinking executive presidents(for UAL) should then AUTOMATICALLY persue CO, with LCC as a last option.(Nothing against the LCC employees)

(For UAL), "WHY" ???

Sadly you LCCers already know the answer.................................Tempe/DOUGWEISER :down: :down:

 

[CynicalResAgent]

ATL internationalTerminal

The one thing I am wondering about is why they are building such a large Terminal. Accroding to the above article ATL is building a 16 gate International Terminal, Why would CLT need a 25 gate international Terminal? They're spending 1.5 billion and most of it will be used by DL. I am sure The majority of the facilities in CLT will be used by US but does US need 25 gates? I think maybe half of that? 12-15 gates probably would be more than enough.

 

[BoeingBoy]

The new ATL international terminal will connect to the existing E terminal which is used primarily for internation. The new terminal adds additional international gates, bringing the total to about 40.

US is already the primary user of most of the 13 international gates on CLT's D-concourse.

Jim

 

[CLT CS AGENT]

ATL internationalTerminal

Why would CLT need a 25 gate international Terminal? They're spending 1.5 billion and most of it will be used by DL. I am sure The majority of the facilities in CLT will be used by US but does US need 25 gates? I think maybe half of that? 12-15 gates probably would be more than enough.

Interesting. I wonder......is it possible that management has found a way to fix PHL...by moving some of the international flights to CLT? Pure speculation. It does strike me that CLT is doubling the number of gates on the Express Terminal by building an additional 25 gates and now plans on building a 25 gate international terminal (not to mention a third paralell that is already under construction). The CLT airport commision is a tight fisted lot. There is no way the commision would spend this kind of money without knowing that something MAJOR is in the works and headed their way. We can guess and make predictions all day, but I don't think we will truly know whats going to happen until it happens. Here's to hopeing and praying that something good is in the works and it will insure our continued employement and give us something to be proud of, again!

 

[EMBFA]

CLT could MAYBE support one or two more transatlantic flights. The only realistic international gateway US has is PHL.

 

[CynicalResAgent]

Sorry, I wanted to clarify my post.

In ATL they are spending 1.5 billion on the new international Terminal which I was saying I am sure would mostly benifit DL.

In CLT any new internation terminal will surely be used mostly by US, and maybe one gate used by LH.

If US is using most of D right now (last time I was in CLT some of it was also overflow for express sometimes) and most of the caribbean flights are AM departures and the Eurpean flights are Afternoon arrivals and PM departures couldn't they get more usage out of the same gates?If US uses 13 gates now what I am questioning is does US plan on doubling their international flights?

Destinations like BDA, and YYZ don't require customs facilities (what other destinations don't also, I can't think of them right now, other than if US wanted to fly CLT to SNN or DUB???) So they don't require special gates. If US wanted to add flights to South America CLT might be a good gateway, Also being a banking city maybe one day a Pacific destination might be in demand but US does not have the aircraft and there are other city pairs that would be higher on the money making list before someone would give CLT it's shot at something like that I think, CLT is a fast growing city but I doubt the demand is there today for someone to take the risk.

 

[FlyUs]

CLT could MAYBE support one or two more transatlantic flights. The only realistic international gateway US has is PHL.

I think Boston could work also. Service to FRA and FCO in particular. Internationally we serve CUN, MBJ, PUJ, NAS and this winter begin new service to GCM from BOS.

 

[EMBFA]

BOS can certainly support service to places like FCO and FRA, and does. As do the New York and Washington markets. US Airways flights to those cities, however, would get creamed. There are already several American and international carriers that have Boston transatlantic covered. Our focus city there is mainly Shuttle and mostly EAS Express flights. I think US is third now after DL and AA.

US can only compete internationally from it's three stranglehold hubs PHL CLT and PHX. The second two can support two to three destinations each. Philly could support a few more transatlantics and maybe two transpacific... that's about the scope of possible current US Airways international growth.

 

[FlyUs]

BOS can certainly support service to places like FCO and FRA, and does. As do the New York and Washington markets. US Airways flights to those cities, however, would get creamed. There are already several American and international carriers that have Boston transatlantic covered. Our focus city there is mainly Shuttle and mostly EAS Express flights. I think US is third now after DL and AA.

US can only compete internationally from it's three stranglehold hubs PHL CLT and PHX. The second two can support two to three destinations each. Philly could support a few more transatlantics and maybe two transpacific... that's about the scope of possible current US Airways international growth.

I disagree.. BOS is anyones ballgame. According to the US DOT, AA has 13.98%, DL has 13.90% and US has 13.34% market share from Aug 2006- Jul 2007. This also does not include HP. US is also #1 in all of New England. When US flew BOS-FRA in the mid 90s, it was profitable in the summer and slightly unprofitable in the winter. I would imagine this route might work with our membership in the Star Alliance.

 

[BoeingBoy]

Sorry, I wanted to clarify my post.

Undoubtedly my mistake for mis-interpreting your post. I thought you were saying that ATL would only have 16 international gates (the new terminal they're building) so why would CLT need 25.

I'm guessing that US will use 12-15 of them - still only leasing a few and paying per use for the others (maybe more depending on what happens with TA flights/gates at PHL). I also suppose a possibility is that CLT wouldn't put all the jetways/ramp in initially - only the west side and ends. That would give them about the same amount of international gates they have now while still freeing up D-con for somebody plus having expansion capability for widebody gates.

One of the problems with D-con is that anytime a longer aircraft is parked at the end (like LH) taxiing from E-con or the "backside" of D is one-way at a time for traffic to/from 18R/36L (or the new 3rd parallel when completed). The new intn'l terminal will alleviate that.

Jim

 

[CynicalResAgent]

The article does say they are spending 1.5 billion to add 16 gates in ATL. I don't know any other details than that, I've been through ATL ages ago and all I remember was that it was a multiple midfield layout with a underground tram connecting them. Ultimately how that expands on the existing international gates, I have no clue, it just seems expensive and people seem quick to always say "fill in the blank" airport authority is getting, has been, or will be shafted by US management. Seems to me that the taxpayers in ATL are paying a lot for this international expansion. Now albeit, DL seems to have their head in the game and has added a lot of new destinations (Not only Europe but also India, Africa and TLV) but cities are always taking on a certain level of calculated risk when they propose expansions to their airports.

 

[BoeingBoy]

Seems to me that the taxpayers in ATL are paying a lot for this international expansion.

I haven't tried to find the answer, but I strongly suspect that it will be paid for by issuing that'll be repaid with airport generated funds. That's generally how these kind of airport projects are financed.

Jim