According to the networks, the skies have been unfriendly to fly this summer and the airlines are to blame.
Journalists have been quick to point the finger at business when the problems can easily be pegged to an outmoded computer system – owned and operated by the U.S. government.
“One of the knocks on JetBlue following this Valentine’s Day situation was that the airline had grown too big too fast,” Matt Lauer said to JetBlue’s CEO on August 20 “Today.”
In another CEO interview on “Today” Natalie Morales went after Northwest Airlines Doug Steenland on August 15:
“Well, let me ask you what the viewers are asking: ‘Why can’t this management admit’ that ‘they made errors and stop blaming the short staffing, poor employee morale, flight cancellations, and operational problems on the employees, especially’ the ‘pilots’?”
The hot summer has been not so hot for media coverage of the airline industry. In a month of coverage (July 27 – August 28) ABC, CBS and NBC have aired at least 21 stories highly critical of the airlines including attacks on American Airlines, Northwest, Southwest and JetBlue. Few stories made the connection to the failing air traffic control system.
Only one airline received consistently positive attention during that time: Virgin Airlines owned by global warming philanthropist Sir Richard Branson. That airline was fawned over by NBC's Meredith Vieira and Ann Curry on August 8.
After "Today" reported the launch of Sir Richard Branson's latest venture, Virgin America, Meredith Vieira declared:
“Love Virgin Atlantic, so I think we’re going to enjoy this one, as well.”
Ann Curry was just as enthusiastic saying, “Let’s take it to China.”
But the airlines may not be to blame for all flight problems. The Boyd Group, an aviation consulting company, faults the government-run Federal Aviation Administration and air traffic control (ATC) system.
“The main cause of delays is the decades-long inability of the FAA to construct an ATC system that meets the demands of the air transportation system. The ATC system is not a static set-piece to which we must adjust our aviation system. Instead, it is a vital part of our infrastructure which the FAA has repeatedly failed to keep updated,” states the Boyd Group Web site.
The Boyd Group continued: “The FAA has consistently wasted billions over the past 25 years, often on programs that only get so far and are then cancelled.”Despite that, some in the media want even more government intervention.
On August 20, NBC “Today” host Matt Lauer asked JetBlue’s CEO Dave Barger “how would you feel about Washington getting involved [by passing a passenger’s bill of rights]?”
—Julia A. Seymour is an assistant editor for the Business & Media Institute.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Serious Question on Airlines and the MSM
August 29, 2007 - 16:24 ET by Lame CherryConsidering how much everyone hates the MSM and Jesse Jackson used to spit in white people's soup when he was a waiter, I was wondering in the friendly skies just how often a stewardess.....yeah I know they are flight girlies, but just like tomotoe I use it to tick liberals off, just how often a stewardess accidentally pee's in Dan Rather's coffee.
Makes one wonder just how much the elites partake of when they are bashing industries all the time.
*HIC IACET ARTORIVS REX QVONDAM REXQVE FVTVRVS
Ohh to many planes, and the passengers that want to fly on them.
August 29, 2007 - 16:45 ET by upcountrywaterScrew em, because it's..
Entitlement over infrastructure every SINGLE time.
As a pilot and aircraft owner/operator
August 29, 2007 - 16:54 ET by niner-four-whiskeyJulia,
As both a pilot and owner/operator of multiple aircraft, I can tell you that yes indeed, the major airlines are in fact to blame for the bulk of their ills. Their strategy has been to shift to greater and greater numbers of Regional Jets, like the Canadair CRJ and the Embraers. They like them because they can be crewed with junior pilots, require less cabin crew and to cover the growth in air travel since the 9/11 slump, they schedule more and more flights. So they are flying planes that hold 90 passengers instead of 190, with more flights to compensate.
While the air traffic control system does need an update, the big problem is on the ground. There is a limit to how many aircraft can take off and land on a runway every hour. In many of the major hubs around the country, the concrete has hit saturation, not the airspace.
In the ever-reaching effort to reduce their costs, many of the major airlines have reduced the numbers of pilots on staff. They are running right at the ragged edge of being able to crew flights. There are mandated duty times for pilots and if a crew "times out" they have to be replaced, by law. (for good reasons). NWA has especially been troubled with this problem, canceling large numbers of flights for crew shortages. It's like a bunch of dominoes. If a crew times out in Kansas, they have to get one from Chicago, who now will need one from Seattle and so on. One big weather delay in the country will leave crews timed out and the house of cards falls down.
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association has been fighting this mess for years.
http://www.aopa.org/...
As far as the "Passenger Bill of Rights" thing goes, you'd *think* that no one in their right mind would load a jet full of passengers, pull 20 feet away from the gate, all the while knowing they'll be sitting there for a couple of hours. But this is done all the time! There is every incentive for the airline to do this and no reason for them not to. Why? Well, first, this counts as an "ontime" departure. Second, the flight crews are not paid until the door is closed, then they are on the clock until it opens again at the end of the flight.
Great summary!
August 29, 2007 - 17:37 ET by c5thenIt is indeed the way the system is setup that makes it "worth it" to the airlines to operate the way they do. Actually (I can't believe I'm going to write this) the FAA can help fix some of the problems. The FAA could change the definition of "departure" to "wheels up" and the definition of "arrival" to "at the gate". Also there should be a rule or regulation that prohibits impossible scheduling. I have been waiting at a gate that listed two different flights for two different destinations departing at the same exact time.
The day that "politician" became a career choice is the day we started losing the Republic
Well, they can staff out
August 29, 2007 - 18:49 ET by Chris NormanWell, they can staff out the wazoo and go back to the business of going out of business or they can try to break the public of the habit of expecting rock bottom fares. I don't know what the answer is...
The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.
- Arabian Proverb
A couple of weeks ago, I
August 29, 2007 - 22:06 ET by jdhawkA couple of weeks ago, I flew one way out of Boston to Raleigh. The plane left on time. I had a roomy seat - even though I am cheapskate and always fly economy.
When I sat down, I was greeted by a stewardess - not bad looking either - that gave me a free head set. I plugged it in and listened to the mandatory babble about how to fasten and unfasten a seat belt, but instead of the demo by the stewardess it was all done on my 6" LCD screen. When she was done, I tuned into real time business news. Later, I saw a sitcom and before landing dozed listening to some smooth jazz.
Just before I got up to depart the ontime plane, I glanced at the LCD screen. It stated, "We're glad you flew with us. Without you, we would just be flying around a bunch of TV sets!"
The airline - JetBlue - delightful . . . and the price about $88.00.
I've never had a problem
August 29, 2007 - 22:15 ET by balboaI've never had a problem with JetBlue. The only slightly difficult flight I ever had was not their fault (unbelievable head winds). But I couldn't believe the story about the people on the tarmac for 6 hours or whatever.