Huntsville updates

[MovingAL]

AirTran could have chosen to fly from HSV to DCA rather than BWI. In fact, the better business strategy is to fly from HSV to DCA. US Air, Delta, United, and AA fly into DCA from HSV because that's what the market demands.

BWI is a hub for AirTran but that isn't the convenient airport for people flying into DC. It's a 45 minute ride up the 2-lane BW parkway that many people don't want to drive. Also, metro doesn't go to BWI and you have to transfer over to the MARC Dulles is easier to get to from VA and DC. I've flown out of BWI on AirTran into HSV before but chose to fly "—-tacular" US Air out of DCA when the fare price was equal.

Further, Federal employees and contractors mostly have meetings in VA. DCA and Dulles would have been the airport choice to better persuade federal flyers to switch.

AirTran only came because of the subsidy and likely was to remain only as long as the subsidy.

Until HSV has a greater number of private flyers than gov't flyers, fares will remain high and plane quality low.