cpberry1

A question for the guys with more insight than I (well, I think I know the answer but...) and to be fair I should probably ask this in the Majors section too.

Are the airlines targeting operations like NetJets and Flight Options when they refer to the "corporate users" not carrying their fair share of the financing of the ATC system or are they really referring to the corporations that own and operate their own aircraft?

I think it's an aim to drive a wedge between the little guy (poor you and me just trying to get to Aunt Bea's wedding) and the "big evil corporations" who "have all this extra money lying around." Only after they're successful in demonizing the one side will the airlines then say that they're referring not to individual corporations but to operations like the fractionals.

Or maybe I'm mistaken and there is a large disparity between the airline/fractional tax burden. Anyone care to comment?
Thanks

FlyerJosh

The airlines are aiming at anybody that they can to take the heat (political and financial) off of themselves.

They don't care if it's fractionals, corporate or GA, as long as their political interests are met.

If they can get the flying public to believe that the 4 hour delays in JFK/ATL/ORD/LAX/etc are anybody's fault but their own, it only helps their cause.

It all comes down to public perception, and even though I'm completely disgusted with the campaign of misinformation that the airlines are fronting, I have to admit that it seems to be effective.

Jake

I received an email a while back from Delta. It was a brief on how the airways system is being financed by the 121's and how "corporate and fractional" outfits don't pay their own way. The email asked for my support and provided a link for to email a form letter to congress with my support to "equalize" the cost...

NJA leadership has stated in public forums that if it comes to this the company will pay and the costs will be passed on to the owners, however, they followed with the statement that the increased costs would not affect business...

Ziggy

IMHO
RJ's are the cause of so many ATC delays, if it's traffic related. Also I believe that the airlines are mad at anyone who has taken their First and Business clientel. These are the primary inidividuals who are now utilizing alot more private transportation these days.

EXTW

.....and the Majors are the root of this problem by entering into contracts with these carriers which have the highest CSM's in the business. It's not the Regionals' fault, it is the contracting Majors' fault. They created this monster, and now they are trying to deflect this away from themselves. They subsidize the Regional operations.



X

c17heavy

Back in my LJ days we had several 4+ hour delays west bound out of Dulles/National/ADW. We were told it was a traffic jam in the sky D2 the increase/upsurge in regional traffic, mainly going to and from Chicago.

Also, in the C-17, I've had several metering issues south and north of DC b/c of Washington ARTCC congestion.

In a lot of cases, the new regionals definitely play a part b/c a small BE, DA, or ERJ's taking as much space in IFR (Potomac Approach) as a 777 (not withstanding wake issues).

NJA Capt

You might want to read the front page of the WSJ today.


"Aircraft numbers tell the tale: U.S. airlines grounded a net 385 large planes from 2000 through 2006 -- but they added 1,029 regional jets -- says data firm Airline Monitor."

"Since 2002, domestic traffic by mainline airlines has increased 3.6% in terms of revenue-passenger miles, which is the number of miles that paying customers are flown, Airline Monitor says. But traffic on airlines' regional partners -- which fly the smaller aircraft -- is up 196%."

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1186...onsub_page_one

correcting

Everyone should make copies of that article and then stuff it in the airline magazines when you're on a flight. Or leave copies lying around the terminals. Give passengers something to read while they are waiting out their multi-hour delay.

EXTW

[QUOTE=NJA Capt;214205]You might want to read the front page of the WSJ today.




I thought I was kind of saying the same thing. If the Majors had no interest in the Regional, they wouldn't exist. What Regional has survived without a Major for a partner?


X

Bill Lumberg

We need more runways - simple as that. You can't have more than one aircraft on a runway at a time. Until the US Gov't gets its arms around that issue, we will continue to have congestion complaints.

There is plenty of room in the air, just not enough room on the ground.