Minneapolis Airport

[okinawatyphoon]

I couldn't find an airport thread, so I'll just start a new topic!

I just have a few questions about it. Does anyone know if Southwest Airlines will make an appearance at MSP soon? Or has the merger with ATA brought Southwest to MSP? Also, I hear such great things about this airport....do most people agree?

[NorthStar]

I think MSP International is a great airport. It's now easier to navigate, especially with the new people mover (Skyway Connector) and the Hub tram, which links to the new light rail stop.

MSP International Airport has two terminals, which are named after famous Minnesotans; the Lindbergh Terminal (named for aviator Charles Lindbergh) and the smaller Humphrey Terminal (named for former US Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey). Lindbergh Terminal officially has seven concourses, lettered A-G, with the Humphrey terminal known as Concourse H.

Lindbergh Passenger Airlines

Air Canada

Air Tran Airways

America West

American Airlines

ATA Airlines, Inc.

Comair Airlines

Continental Airlines

Delta Air Lines

Frontier Airlines

Icelandair

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines

Mesaba Airlines

Northwest Airlines

Midwest Connect(Midwest Airlines)

SkyWest

United Airlines

US Airways

Humphrey Passenger Airlines

Casino Express

Champion Air

Miami Air International

Omni Air International

Ryan International

Sun Country Airlines

Transmeridian Airlines

[AvianKeahi]

The MSP airport is currently the 6th largest in the US with 33 million passengers. It's expected to grow to about 55 million by 2020. It's also consistently ranked among the best airports in the country and among the top ten in the world.

But the list or airlines above is going to change. All non-Northwest affiliated airlines will be moving to the Humphrey Terminal in two years. The Lindbergh will be entirely Northwest, KLM, Continental and Delta.

I am right now working on the computer model of the Humphrey Terminal and Parking Ramp expansion. The Humphrey will grow from the current 8 gates to 20, with room for additional gates as well if Northwest Airlines' Building F is torn down. The Lindbergh will be expanding to 153 gates.

[okinawatyphoon]

^^ Great info guys, thanks. I'm pretty current on MSP news though, but I'm just really wanting Southwest Airlines to serve MSP. Also, I wonder why MSP hasn't attracted the number of international carriers that Detroit has. Both airports are similar, but Detroit seems to be better internationally. Correct me if I am wrong, please because with Northwest Airlines, MSP might serve all the international places Detroit does but I don't know it.

[FSUViking9]

I believe that KLM and NW are either partners, or NW owns a big piece of KLM.

[Ih8thecold]

^^ Great info guys, thanks. I'm pretty current on MSP news though, but I'm just really wanting Southwest Airlines to serve MSP. Also, I wonder why MSP hasn't attracted the number of international carriers that Detroit has. Both airports are similar, but Detroit seems to be better internationally. Correct me if I am wrong, please because with Northwest Airlines, MSP might serve all the international places Detroit does but I don't know it.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Southwest serves MSP through ATA, but don't expect to see SWA flying in MSP anytime soon. Their business plan is to not get into a battle with one of the major carriers. They prefer to fly into markets that aren't completely dominated by one airline, or to fly to smaller markets. This is why they are so profitable. NWA has MSP so completely by the balls that other carriers really can't compete. Remeber when Frontier started running non-stop from MSP to LAX a few years back? That lasted about 3 months before NWA ran them off of that route. SWA is too smart to bother with that headache.

[okinawatyphoon]

Southwest serves MSP through ATA, but don't expect to see SWA flying in MSP anytime soon.  Their business plan is to not get into a battle with one of the major carriers.  They prefer to fly into markets that aren't completely dominated by one airline, or to fly to smaller markets.  This is why they are so profitable.  NWA has MSP so completely by the balls that other carriers really can't compete.  Remeber when Frontier started running non-stop from MSP to LAX a few years back?  That lasted about 3 months before NWA ran them off of that route.  SWA is too smart to bother with that headache.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

But from what I know, I'm pretty sure NWA has an even bigger hold on Detroit, yet Southwest serves Detroit.