theskeptic's Journal: Season's flight delays could be worst in years

And why am I grinning? Well, the airline industry has shed so many workers that this is one sector that has only sob stories to tell. Even southwest airlines eked out a profit last quarter only because it hedged fuel prices at 35$ in 2000. Otherwise, it would have shown a loss of 166 million last quarter. For a sector that has shed 1/5th of its job force in 4 years, delays might sound bad to passengers but the airlines must be heaving a sigh of relief. The airlines have been burdened with so much debt, some might have been forced to liquidate even if they went through bankruptcy court. Shortage of staff, weather are not the only reasons flights will be delayed. The problem with airports is that they have been saddled with expensive and not completely functional detection equipment. All this stuff was bought in a hurry after sep 11. Now the govt realises the need to upgrade/replace to make them function as it wants them to but its going to cost a lot more dough. Taxpayers pay.

Season's flight delays could be worst in years