Hobby "INTERNATIONAL" Airport (update) (Houston, Midway: prices, litigation, oil)

[Trae713]

Originally Posted by MIBS98

No smart business reason in it, just a simple reality of mergers. One merger partner is always in the upper position. The "winner"retains its corporate HQ, its name, etc. That is why the Continental name no longer exists and why the HQ is in Chicago. I also don't understand why people are so upset about it. That is just life in the business world.

On the other hand, as somebody else mentioned, I no longer like the ex-Continental because United is a horrible airline.

Except Continental's management took over. The merger wasnt happening unless Chicago was the HQ.

[modster]

Originally Posted by JimBaker488

Waste Management moved it's headquarters from Chi-Town to Houston, does anybody think people in Chicago stewed about losing one corp HDs ? Of course not, they took a loss, picked themselves up, and moved on.
On the other hand, a lot of people in Houston acted like a bunch of little kids crying and bellyaching because they lost a single headquarters to another city.
Chicago is more of an international city than Houston at this time by way of being a more mature city, but there's no way Houston will close that lead by sapping the strength of it's primary airport thru spreading out international flight connections to a second airport.
Most people in Houston aren't sophisticated enough about the aviation industry to understand that, so hopefully it's corporate leaders will save the city and it's inexperienced mayor from making a mistake that would harm it and it's growth over the long-term thru a decision that would have an adverse effect upon one of the primary components of it's infrastructure ?

Well I guess we're lucky that we have your sophistication to explain it to people who back it but don't understand the aviaition industry as well as you, like, I dunno, the Director of the airport system.

[modster]

Originally Posted by llmrkc07

This is good. Now I hope they can fix up the area around Hobby Airport.

Hope springs eternal.

[modster]

There is an analysis on it here:

Today’s the day for the airport report – Off the Kuff

[garxhap]

Originally Posted by modster

Hope springs eternal.

I actually think it is doable. It would be a huge effort though, and I seriously doubt it will happen.

The long drive between Bush and downtown, however, is impossible to fix. And it gives Houston a huge black eye with out of town visitors. They come and go without seeing the better parts of the city.

[JimBaker488]

Originally Posted by Trae713

Do you work for United because you're post doesn't make any sense. Not sure if you understand the capitalism or not.

Hey man, I wouldn't work in the aviation industry, those people get treated like dogs. Use to be a good industry, but not for along time now.
BTW, have you guys in Houston still got that little Ellington airfield where the Air National Guard is ? If so, you should start offering service to Tijuana from there, that way you'll have 3 international airports in Houston. and all of them
rinky-dink.

[JimBaker488]

Originally Posted by tebor79

to set us dumb Texans strait.

and please explain how competition will harm growth long term.

You probably will end up with cheaper fares between Houston and places like Monterrey and Cancun, but the downside is that you will probably also completely lose service to some other destinations like Rio, Sao Paulo, or Buenos Aires. Now if you like that sort of trade-off, then you should be happy with new international service at Hobby if it comes to pass.

[crbcrbrgv]

Originally Posted by westhou

Why do people get so upset that Continental moved their headquarters to Chicago? There had to be some smart business reason for them doing it. People act like they did it to punish Houston. Businesses move when it makes economical sense to them. I'm sure Houston has benefited from companies moving here from other cities.

Because losing a company located in "business friendly Houston" flies in the face of local conventional wisdom, especially to "Communist Obamaland Chicago".

This is the impression I get from some natives I have spoken to in regards to this issue.

[MIBS98]

Originally Posted by JimBaker488

You probably will end up with cheaper fares between Houston and places like Monterrey and Cancun, but the downside is that you will probably also completely lose service to some other destinations like Rio, Sao Paulo, or Buenos Aires. Now if you like that sort of trade-off, then you should be happy with new international service at Hobby if it comes to pass.

Doubt it. These are lucrative routes for United. If Southwest is only going after the Mexico, Caribbean traffic, I can't see United backing away from South American routes. What are they going to do, route everyone through Chicago and flight non-stop to South America from there? Not likely, best economic sense for them remains routing through Houston.

[mikeyyc]

Originally Posted by JimBaker488

You probably will end up with cheaper fares between Houston and places like Monterrey and Cancun, but the downside is that you will probably also completely lose service to some other destinations like Rio, Sao Paulo, or Buenos Aires. Now if you like that sort of trade-off, then you should be happy with new international service at Hobby if it comes to pass.

Based on what analysis? SWA flying to compete with UA in short range tourist markets does not equate to UA moving their Latin America hub. They have no other alternatives with anything resembling similar infrastructure or location.