"In Los Angeles, we have 21 gates. We have about 140 flights per day here. I think it's our highest gate utilization airport. We'd love to have more flights, but there aren't enough gates in Los Angeles. So the constraint in Los Angeles is gates. Our constraint on growth in Los Angeles is the gates. Essentially, if we want to add a new route, we have to cancel our current route. We just don't have enough gates yet."
"In an interview, Kirby took a swipe at ultra low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines, discussed artificial intelligence and explained why he thinks the 2028 Olympics might not be such great news for the airline industry. In California, Spirit has slashed the number of airports it serves. What is the issue with the low-cost airline model? Ultra low-cost carriers, I don't think they work."
The 2028 Olympics could reduce business travel and hurt airlines because business travel typically shuts down during the Games. Bookings have surged since Labor Day after a weak start to the year, signaling improving economic confidence as uncertainty around tariffs and global politics eases. Air travel is an early, real-time indicator of U.S. economic health because it is one of the first expenses cut during uncertainty. United's Los Angeles growth is limited by gate constraints: 21 gates handle about 140 daily flights, forcing route cancellations to add new service. Ultra low-cost carriers have reduced airports and routes and face criticism for a customer-unfriendly business model that undermines their viability.
Read at Los Angeles Times
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