Future of the IAD hub?

[Kev3188]

Interesting article from Airways on what it may look like going forward.

http://airwaysnews.com/blog/2015/12/01/analysis-what-does-the-future-hold-for-united-at-washington-dulles/

Thoughts?

 

[T5towbar]

They have been predicting this since the merger began. You will hear these predictions till the end of time.
IAD isn't going anywhere in the UA system, because EWR is slot constrained and has no where else to expand. Plus ORD is too far west to backtrack for some.
The problem is that DCA is the airport of choice, but IAD still has all of the international flights in that area.  Plus it is cheaper to operate out of DCA than it is to IAD domestically. Facilities at IAD has to be improved as well.
IAD (and to a certain extent IAH) is there to cover the Southeastern part of the country, since UA doesn't have powerhouse hubs like ATL; CLT; and MIA (for Latin America).