KPTM FOX 42: Omaha News, Sports and Weather; Nebraska News, Sports; kptm.com | Airline Study: Industry Failures Worst Since 2000
Member Center:
OMAHA (KPTM) - Another airline has shut down. Skyway was a subsidiary of Midwest airlines until Sunday. It's the fourth carrier to shut down in the last week; which makes it seem as though the nation's airline industry is quickly taxiing off the runway.
A University of Nebraska-Omaha professor says that's exactly what's happening. Dr. Brent Bowen will share the results of a new study in Washington, D.C. on Monday morning.
He believes the worst is yet to come when it comes to traveling by plane. "The main problem is the airlines are willing to fly us for less than it actually costs, and no business can be sustainable in those circumstances," Bowen said.
Each year, Bowen releases an annual "Airline Quality Rating report." Monday morning, he will announce that the industry failed in all four categories for the first time since the year 2000.
The four categories being: on time performance, baggage handling, denied boarding, and customer service. Bowen also discovered that low-cost airlines, like Southwest and JetBlue, performed better than national airline carriers such as Delta and United.
"The low cost airlines have a management and labor commitment to perform," he said.
In Omaha at Eppley Airfield, many passengers had their own ideas of what they'd like to see the airline industry change. "More catering to the customers that use airlines would be nice," Brian Abrahams said.
"We need more shuttles so we don't have to stand out here in the cold waiting for the buses to come, and cheaper food would be nice," Julie Gore said.
"I just want comfortable seats," Chris Hielen said.
As more complaints continue to file in, Bowen says, the only way airlines can survive, is if the government intervenes - which he thinks is highly unlikely.
"Since we didn't get the government intervention when the terrorist attacks happened, I'm not sure what can happen to get government attention anymore," he said.
Whether the government takes a stand or not, Bowen says the airline industry desperately needs to fix a number of issues; this includes installing better technology, having more direct flights, and building more runways.
If these things aren't done, he believes the industry will see even more problems.
Thank you for participating in our poll. Here are the results so far:
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
