When Denver International Airport was being built for a scheduled opening in October 1993, it seemed as if a rivalry between United and Continental was shaping up. Both hubbed at Stapleton International Airport and seemed destined to engage in a fierce two-way battle for originating and connecting service in the America's new mid-country airport. Continental staked its claim to Concourse A (and built a huge Club there), United took Concourse B and other carriers were relegated to Concourse C -- the stubby one without moving walkways or much in the way of shopping or food service.
By the time the airport actually opened on February 28, 1995 (a date that can be described as "almost March"), Houston-based Continental decided against a Denver hub. Since DIA opened, it has only been possible to fly nonstop only to Houston, Cleveland and Newark. For a time, United all but monopolized the Denver skies. Then, a reincarnated, Denver-based Frontier Airlines hubbed in Denver, and for a long time, anyone flying Frontier to or from anyplace had to start, end or change planes in Denver. Locals built up a powerful loyalty to low-fare Frontier, which became David of Denver battling United the Goliath.
Southwest took notice and steadily began increasing its DIA presence too, eroding Frontier's position as DIA's leading low-fare airline. Frontier began struggling and sank into bankruptcy. If Southwest's play for Frontier had succeeded, that would have catapulted it into a more powerful position against United. But Republic Aviation ultimately took over Frontier, promising to keep its identity and its Denver hub.
What has developed most recently is a three-way came of airline one-upmanship, with United, Frontier and Southwest battling for Denver. There has been a rash of new route announcements. In mid-December, in time for holiday business and the ski season, United will be starting two daily roundtrip flights to Midland, Texas, and one to Louisville, Kentucky-- the only carrier with nonstops from Denver on both routes, SkyWest, a United partner, will fly these routes with 50-seat CRJ-200 regional jets.
The Denver Business Journal recently commented that "United’s announcement came 12 days after Dallas-based Southwest unveiled non-stop service from [Denver] to Boston, Reno, Nev. and Spokane, Wash., beginning in January. And it came just eight days after Denver-based Frontier said it would begin non-stop flights to Fort Myers, Fla. and increase the frequency of flights between [Denver] and Tampa, Fla., starting in November."
How nice to have a real choice once again -- at least domestically. When the economy picks up, some of us hope that the "International" will be put back into "Denver International Airport."
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