Why not have a HP/US merger? I've talked about this before, and the general response has been "it would be just like US/PSA... lots of stuff on the coasts, but nothing in the middle (of the country)." That is nonsense.
After integrating the two companies, you would have the following fleet (including the birds being removed from the US fleet by GE - 15 733 & 10 319):
B733: 90
B734: 45
B757: 44
B767: 10
A319: 89
A320: 79
A321: 28
A330: 9
Total: 394 A/C
This fleet would be much more streamlined than the US/PSA fleet (no BAE, etc)
Now, this is what I would do:
1) Drop the LAS hub. Retain PHX, and continue increasing the LAX focus city that HP has developed. Currently, HP serves the following cities from LAX: LAS, BOS, JFK, IAD, PHX, PVR, ACA, MZT, YEG, & YVR. Combined with the existing US service to PIT, PHL, & CLT, you already are serving 13 destinations. The one thing that US truly gave away on the west coast was LAX. The Los Angeles metro area is the largest in the country, and currently US has a measley 10 flights. Unexcusable. Resume LAX-SFO, and also begin LAX-SLC/DEN/FLL/MCO/DFW/SEA. This would give you 20 mailine cities and approximately 100 daily departures. It would also be prudent to resume Express service, connecting LAX to SAN, SNA, SMF, SJC, RNO, etc.
2) Ensure you get the financiang to take delivery of the new A332 A/C. If US could get their hands on 10 of them, this would be the plan: All Transatlantic service goes to A330 A/C, with the removal of 767 from these routes. In addition, open LAX-NRT/HKG, or, if the LAX focus city doesn't pan out, at least PHL-NRT/HKG. 19 A330 A/C would be available for the 13 European cities & 2 Asian cities.
3) Instead of getting rid of the B767, simply redeploy them. They still function, and they are workhorses (although not appropriate for transatlantic service). Begin LAX-HNL/KOA, and designate 2 A/C to these routes. Place an additional 5 B767 on transcon routes - LAX-JFK/PHL immediately come to mind. The remaining 3 767 could be utilized year-round in the Caribbean cargo/leisure market, making trips to SJU/SDQ/CUN.
4) Utilize the A321 on all the premium transcon routes, as US currently does; PIT/PHL/CLT-SAN/SEA/PHX/LAX/SFO, as well as PHX-MIA/ATL/IAD/BWI/EWR/BOS/JFK/DTW and LAX-BOS/JFK/IAD. A319 can also be used on some of these routes.
5) Increase Latin America/South American service by utilizing the B757 in this region. Departures from PHX & CLT have the legs to do it, and simply continue increasing the service down south. I believe the 757 could do CLT-GEG.
6) Use the A320, along with any remaining B757 on the Caribbean routes. Cargo will be carried to the region on the 767 flights to SJU/SDQ/CUN, so cargo isn't a real issue with the size of the other A/C. The A320 is a perfect A/C for flights from the current east coast hubs (CLT/PHL/FLL) to Caribbean destinations.
7) Use the B733/734 A/C as the heart of the hub & spoke operations, running the typical JAX-CLT-CMH flights. However, increase the stage length of these flights. Add the fuel tank back to these birds, and put the ovens back in the galleys! Then utilize these flights on PHL-DEN/SLC/ORD to go along with the other destinations.
8) Use the A319 on new pt. to pt. flights. This is what the company has been talking about for years. BUF-FLL. BTV-MSY. CMH-RDU. ISP-MCO. The opportunities are endless.
9) Don't forget the vast express feeder network that still exists. HP currently has CR9, CRJ, and DH8 being flown by Mesa. Combine that with the vast US Express network, and the final result is an airline with unlimited possibilities.
Over 400 mainline A/C
Over 200 Express A/C
Hubs in PHX, PHL, CLT
Focus cities in LAX, PIT, LGA, BOS, DCA
