CLT to Open New 25 Gate Int. Terminal in 2011

[ClueByFour]

Not to mention Charlotte is also home to freightliner as well as nearby BMW plant.

Spartanburg is not Charlotte. And I can tell you (from connecting via IAD and ATL to abroad from GSP) that the BMW folks don't all drive to/fly via CLT to head back to Germany.

 

[700UW]

They fly GSP to CLT

 

[SS255]

Spartanburg is not Charlotte. And I can tell you (from connecting via IAD and ATL to abroad from GSP) that the BMW folks don't all drive to/fly via CLT to head back to Germany.

I'm not sure how good BMW's balance sheet is looking these days. I know that this is not scientific proof of anything, but BMW's are now almost rarities in Los Angeles. Everybody is turning in their BMW leases early and getting Priuses.

 

[PHL]

Everybody is turning in their BMW leases early and getting Priuses.

I'll bet you a donut and coffee that any given BMW model continues to outsell the Prius, too. By region or country. You pick.

According to AutoObserver, they claim Toyota said it took from 1997 to 2007 to sell just 1 Million of them, with about 500,000 sold in the US during that period. Last year, it achieved about 20,000 units per month in the US - on average, or about 1/4 million annually. That doesn't really compare to the 1.4 Million that BMW sold. These numbers aren't broken down by region, but I don't think they need to be. Your above statement is factually incorrect.

Why in the world would "everybody" turn in a lease of any car early, thus incurring early termination fees that would end up costing far more than the fuel savings from driving a Prius??!

To put this back on topic, after a very steady rise in sales over the years, BMW US auto sales slowed a bit in 2008. I don't think we need to delve into the possible reasons for that when you look at the overall auto industry (and many others) in 2008.

GSP and the BMW plant will continue to be important to that company and the region.

 

[Dog Wonder]

If you are going from GSP to Europe, ATL has a lot more options.

 

[Travelpro72]

Not when all the great airlines of the world discover that they have been missing out on CLT and start service. 🙄 Well ya always can rely on USairways.....be sure to build that terminal BIG, BIG, BIG.

 

[ClueByFour]

They fly GSP to CLT

The car parts might. I can assure you that the people fly via IAD and ATL as well.

 

[Dog Wonder]

Not much room for car parts on GSP-CLT flights.

 

[700UW]

Those car parts are flown on freighters right into GSP.

 

[Dog Wonder]

Those car parts are flown on freighters right into GSP.

US Airways freighters?

BMW is not a reason to build up CLT.

 

[sfb]

Nah. Barry is too expensive. Knowing Tempe, we'll have Charo, since they'll want a Latin beat.

I wonder if she can speak Portugese....

CUCHI CUCHIIIIIII

Naw, more like a drag queen dressed like Charo, that's more in their price range.

 

[Dog Wonder]

Floyd has that wig.

Where can he get the guitar?

 

[PHL]

US Airways freighters?

BMW is not a reason to build up CLT.

Very true. Almost sounds like the argument people were making to keep the PIT-FRA route to serve Bayer.

 

[SS255]

I'll bet you a donut and coffee that any given BMW model continues to outsell the Prius, too. By region or country. You pick.

I counted the Priuses and BMW's in the executive parking lot at my workplace as I left work last night. Granted, by the time I left the parking lot was nearly empty, but the tally was as follows:

BMW: 6
Prius: 7

I don't know if Hollywood is a fair representation of the "real world." My findings are strictly based upon my surroundings. 😉

In any case, I do believe that CLT is a really good alternative international gateway to ATL and IAD for customers originating in the Southeast. NY & PHL are too congested and too far North, and IAH and DFW are too far West in most cases. CLT is perfectly positioned, geographically. And perhaps a brand new terminal will attract the interest of other *A carriers to fly to CLT and codeshare with US.

 

[BoeingBoy]

NY & PHL are too congested and too far North

No question about the congestion (although US is doing it's best to turn CLT into hillbilly Philly). For the record, however, European flights would go up the east coast departing CLT for Europe, passing not too far from EWR, JFK, PHL, and IAD to make a difference. Likewise on the return.

Jim