The Plain Dealer obtained court documents which gave estimates of how the merger might affect 10 existing hub airports, including Hopkins. The numbers indicated severe service cuts locally, causing consternation at Cleveland City Hall.
Airport Director Ricky Smith is adamant the report was not a prediction - and called a news conference to relay details of a morning call between Mayor Frank Jackson, and Continental CEO Jeffrey Smisek.
RICKY SMITH: "Mayor Jackson expressed his discomfort with the message that was reflected in the story. Jeff Smisek in return reaffirmed his commitment to Cleveland and gave assurances that they will continue to support the Cleveland hub and to support this community."
Smisek later released a multi-page statement that said the newspaper report distorted the facts... and asserted that future airline plans would have what he termed "minimal impact on front line employees..... including workers in Cleveland."
20 people stood with Smith at his news briefing, representing vendors, workers, even airport taxi drivers.
Speaking for them was Greater Cleveland Partnership president; Joe Roman.
JOE ROMAN: "This isn't the time to panic, this is a time to galvanize around the partnerships we've already started... The business community believes that pursuing that path is the right way to go."
But, challenged by reporters to define exactly how much the city trusts Continental, Director Smith demurred - talking instead of an undisclosed "Plan B"... re-stating how much improvement has been made at Hopkins during his tenure - and - how 'that' would make the city attractive to 'other' airlines... should Continental later decide to REDUCE its' commitment.
RICKY SMITH:"Our answer is to position this airport to be strong, and to continue to focus on our strategy for developing and attracting air service, and I think if we continue to execute our plan, we'll be in a good place."
A lawsuit opposing the merger continues in a California court this week.
Industry analysts and Congressman Dennis Kucinich each say the merged airline would likely reduce flights to Cleveland.
Kucinich requested internal documents from the company in June, as part of his subcommittee investigation of the merger. He's made no new comments about the issue since.
