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U.S. airlines slash tarmac delays sharply

Wed, 10/13/2010 - 07:30 by Prince damin

Washington -- U.S. airline delays leaving passengers stranded on runways dropped sharply in August compared to a year ago, the Department of Transportation said.

In August 2009, there were 66 flights with passengers were stranded in planes for more than 3 hours, the DOT said. In August 2010, there was only one such incident, the department said Tuesday.

U.S. airlines made the improvement without any change in the rate of canceled flights, which could have affected the data.

The lone flight delay that left passengers stranded past the DOT maximum was a United Airlines flight leaving San Juan, Puerto Rico, that was a diverted flight.

Airlines advises WH on customer service

Sat, 01/16/2010 - 06:07 by harsheeb

Washington -- Southwest Airlines -- the lone U.S. airline allowing customers to check not one, but two bags free -- explained its customer service views at the White House.

Gary Kelly, chief executive officer of the airline based in Dallas, was one of several dozen business leaders attending a White House forum on modernizing government Thursday.

"You need to know what you are," Kelly told administrators, explaining it was more important for the airline to be on time and have fabulous customer service than offer frills, the Dallas Morning News reported.

Kelly advised the Obama administration to find ways to get tips from customers and employees, and avoid surveys that allow companies to "check the box."

Discount airlines gaining an edge

Tue, 11/10/2009 - 23:22 by harsheeb

New York -- The biggest game-changer in the U.S. airline industry in recent years is not the recession or fuel costs, but discount carriers, an industry expert said.

The biggest thing that has happened in this industry over the past decade isn't 9/11, or recession, or SARS, or bankruptcies or mergers," economist Dan Kasper at consulting firm LECG said. "It's the deep penetration by the low-cost carriers."

Discount carriers maintained a 10 percent market share in 1999 and now boast a 30 percent market share, USA Today reported Tuesday.

The recession and high fuel costs haven't helped conventional carriers, but discount airlines fared better in recent years because they offer flights to more cities, analysts said.