One thing the United report mentions is that Southwest is apparently not going to pay for the new customs facilities. Instead it is going to be funded by an increase in the airport tax at Hobby. This means that everyone who flies though Hobby will help fund this new facility; not just Southwest passengers. Here is a link to the full study in case anyone wants to read it: http://keepiahstrong.com/docs/UnitedStudyMay3.pdf It was partially authored by professors at MIT and at UH and the main premise is that most of the conclusions drawn by the Southwest study were arrived at by using flawed/bad data (e.g. that fares were going to go down unrealistically and the number of jobs required was way over inflated). Can anyone link to the original Southwest study? It would be nice to read them directly instead of having them summarized/interpreted by the media.
The debate is happening now at City Hall. Bloggers say they've had to turn away people at the door because it's so packed. http://houstontx.city.swagit.com/Live/ BTW, Hobby launched a new petition site http://www.freehobbyairport.com/southwest-community-investment
United can go to hell. The gall to even feign concern about Houston jobs after the merger is unbelievable. And then you get to the price comparisons, showing the ~150-180% markup they enjoy on Latin America flights thanks to the monopoly they have with IAH. Am I correct in coming away with the impression that United's side in the debate boiled down to: If you give Hobby the expansion, we'll scrap the Terminal B renovation and shrink operations at IAH?
United already cost Houston 3,300 jobs: http://app1.kuhf.org/mobile/1334956925 And now they're threatening to take more of their balls elsewhere if we dare allow Southwest to compete with them. Are they serious? Screw you, United.
Seriously. United doesnt deserve any goodwill from the city. United doesnt get to inherit Continental's reputation. And judging from their recent actions its clear that they dont deserve it either. I want cheaper prices and I could care less about United's bullying.
LOL, yeah, as if they're going to leave all that money on the table from business at IAH. Call their bluff.
United has ruined everything. Im just waiting for the day Virgin America starts flying out of Houston.
Wrong. Either Tokyo's Narita (Asian and Caucasian) or Mexico City's Benito Juarez (gorgeous Latinas).
United is bluffing. How convenient of them to threaten to not continue their 700 million dollar investment of Terminal B by saying it's at risk of termination. They are just playing the game. Southwest will get this approved and United can suck it.
F United. They've monopolized the SFO-IAH route post-merger, and driven prices way up. If AA and SWA can co-exist in Dallas, then UA is going to need to learn to play ball in Houston.
Is there any rational legal reason why the city could refuse Southwest's plan ? Here's an quote from KTRK (Ch 13) http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=8652597 with a comment from City Attorney David Feldman : Whether council members think the expansion is good or bad, City Attorney David Feldman says Houston may not have a choice in the matter. Speaking to a packed crowd of airline employees, the city attorney gave a legal opinion saying that due to funding the city receives from the FAA it is essentially obligated to accommodate any reasonable plan from Southwest for its proposed $100 million expansion to Hobby Airport. The city could reject a proposal for Hobby to have those international flights if the airport lacks the capacity to accommodate international flights, if there were to be noise, environmental concerns or a threat to public safety. Groups have been canvassing the area near Hobby trying to inform residents about the project.
Like United is going to walk away from all the money they're making in Houston post-merger. Give me an effing break. Call their bluff, and give them the finger.
