"Editorial: Get tough on DIA gates"

Saturday, September 6, 2003

Editorial:
Get tough on DIA gates
The Denver (CO) Post


The squabble between Frontier and United Airlines over gates on Concourse A
could seriously affect the future of Denver International Airport and
Colorado's billion-dollar-plus tourism industry.

The city's interest, and by extension the interests of Colorado's economy
and consumers, will be best served if Mayor John Hickenlooper and his staff
play hardball with both airlines.

Frontier is one of very few profitable air carriers in the United States.
It's also one of a handful with any near-term plans to buy new aircraft and
add flights. Good-paying jobs and fresh tax revenues will flow to whatever
city gets Frontier's additional business. Denver would be nuts not to try to
land that growth for its own airport - and for Colorado's economy.

An expanded Frontier presence at DIA would also help keep airline ticket
prices low and flight schedules convenient for passengers, because it's big
enough to compete with United.

The easiest way Denver could accommodate Frontier is to let it use eight
gates on Concourse A. But United has first rights to the gates - and United
says no way will it let Frontier onto that turf.

Yet city officials are still trying to sweet-talk the recalcitrant United
into changing its corporate mind. They would have better luck negotiating
with a brick wall.

Centuries ago, a keen observer of effective leadership warned city rulers to
never threaten, but to just take action.

Denver should stop wasting time yakking with United. It should ink a deal
with Frontier to build temporary gates at Concourse A's west end, then draw
up plans to add permanent gates. If helping Frontier means DIA has to
postpone building a regional jet facility that United wants, so be it.

In return for helping Frontier, though, Denver should get guarantees about
job growth and expansion of operations. For example, if Frontier someday
builds its own maintenance center, DIA should get first call on the
facility.

The fact is, Frontier is hardly blameless in creating the current mess. It
ordered new jets and announced an expansion without knowing where it would
put the planes and passengers. Now Frontier says it needs Denver to make a
decision in the next several weeks or it will have to do its expansion
elsewhere.

In this situation, the best way Denver could help the flying public is to
work with Frontier.

However, it's also in Denver's interest to see United survive its
bankruptcy. Yes, United is acting like an 800-pound gorilla having a temper
tantrum. But United runs about 60 percent of the flights at DIA, so its
business needs must be considered. Still, reasonable accommodation doesn't
require Denver to abet United's efforts to block increased competition.

In truth, the airlines need DIA as much as DIA needs them.

Denver holds some aces. Mayor Hickenlooper should play the game accordingly.

Editorials alone express The Denver Post's opinion.
The members of The Post editorial board are William Dean Singleton, chairman
and publisher; Bob Ewegen, deputy editorial page editor; Todd Engdahl,
assistant editorial page editor; Peter G. Chronis, Angela Cortez, Dan Haley
and Penelope Purdy , editorial writers; Mike Keefe, cartoonist; Barbara
Ellis, news editors; and Fred Brown and Barrie Hartman, associate members.

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