WashingtonWire - 2004-03-15

Airlines Post Worst On-Time Record Since 9/11

U.S. airlines had more flight delays in January 2004 than any month since the aftermath of Sept. 11, due largely to congestion at Chicago O'Hare International Airport, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. The 19 U.S. carriers reported an on-time arrival rate of 74.9 percent in January, down from 83.4 percent a year earlier, DOT said this month. In September 2001, flight delays following the terror attacks caused on-time arrivals to plummet to 68 percent. The airlines said aviation system delays—which can include weather and congestion—caused 9.24 percent of their delays, and DOT officials said most of those were because of O'Hare. Other major issues causing delays were due to maintenance and crew problems (5.56 percent), extreme weather (1.35 percent) and security (0.07 percent).

Only 52 percent of flights at O'Hare were on time in January, down from 78 percent a year earlier, DOT said. "We announced an initiative in January to relieve some of the congestion" at O'Hare, said DOT spokesperson Bill Mosley. As such, American Airlines and United Airlines, which account for a combined 88 percent of O'Hare traffic, are cutting flights by 5 percent during O'Hare's peak travel times.

Airlines with the worst on-time performance included commuter carriers operated by United and American. Atlantic Coast Airlines, which operates United Express, posted the lowest on-time arrival rate of 64.8 percent. American Eagle was second, at 65.7 percent.

TSA Publishes Fines for Security Contraband

The Transportation Security Administration has published a list of fines it will charge passengers who try to bring banned items through security checkpoints, either intentionally or by accident. The law allows TSA to fine individuals up to $10,000 per violation, but until last month the agency had not put a dollar figure on each offense. Fines for trying to bringing weapons onboard an aircraft range between $250 and $1,500 for a sharp object or a club-like object that can be used as a weapon, while carrying an unloaded gun will trigger a fine of $1,500 to $3,000 and a criminal referral. Such explosives as dynamite will prompt a fine of between $6,000 and $10,000, whether they're brought onboard or checked as luggage. Less serious explosives, such as fireworks, are subject to a fine of between $250 and $1,500. According to TSA, agents are supposed to consider "aggravating and mitigating factors.'' Aggravating factors that may produce a higher fine include "artful concealment,'' display of a weapon, past history and "attitude of the violator,'' among others. Mitigating factors include disclosure of the item by a violator, an inexperienced flyer and cases where the flyer is a juvenile. TSA has collected $144,830 after finding 3.2 million items in carry-on luggage between August 2003 and January 2004, according to spokesperson Darrin Kayser. Of those, 60,000 were firearms, explosives, knives and box cutters. The average fine was $210.

Lawmaker Protests FAA Budget Cut

A fight is brewing in Washington over President Bush's proposal to cut funding for the Federal Aviation Administration's facilities and equipment program. The 14 percent decrease—from $2.893 billion in the current fiscal year to $2.5 billion in fiscal 2004—is "extremely shortsighted," said Congressman Don Young (D-Alaska), chairman of the House Appropriations Committee at a House Budget Committee hearing this month. "To ensure our nation's air traffic control system remains safe, efficient and able to accommodate an increased number of passengers anticipated in the near future, the committee recommends the facilities and equipment programs be funded to at least at the level of $2.993 billion.'' Bush asked Congress to cut the funding in response to reports by government investors that criticized the agency's spending.

~Patty Donmoyer