The airport also is a magnet for national and international corporations that locate their corporate headquarters and major facilities in the Metroplex. Companies like Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad, Exxon, Intel, Motorola and J.C. Penney would never have considered a city that lacked a world-class airport. This is because, as a major hub airport, it allows passengers to transfer to flights for destinations that local traffic would never justify. Without the heavy passenger traffic created by hubbing, local fliers would be restricted to destinations for which there is high local demand. In addition, the Metroplex would quickly lose its attraction as a premier international entry point to the United States for foreign travelers.
Hub airports are central clearinghouses for connecting flights.
The variety of destinations and flight schedules available at a hub offers Metroplex residents travel options that otherwise would not be available and makes the Metroplex attractive to large companies that need easy access to national and international destinations. The airport system and our entire region have thrived because this time-tested balance offers travelers and businesses one of the best combinations of service and convenience of any major city in the nation. The airport issues currently being debated must be addressed on the local level if we are ever to reach a solution that is equitable to everyone. In order for such a solution to be long-lasting. Metroplex residents must let key decision-makers outside our area know that we want and need to maintain local control of our airport system.