Sat, Feb 13, 2010
Airlines Flying Smaller Aircraft On Short-Haul Routes
At one time, American Airlines flew
two large airplanes out of Chicago's O'Hare International for every
regional jet that operated there. For United Airlines, the ratio
was three to one. Today, that trend has reversed, and the airport
and passengers are feeling the pinch.
The airlines say the smaller jets are cheaper to operate, and
it's easier to fly a full airplane when there are half as many
seats. But passengers say the smaller jets are not as comfortable
as a larger Boeing or Airbus aircraft, not to mention there is less
room for carry-on luggage.
The Chicago Tribune reports that
the airport, too, is feeling a financial strain because of the
trend. Regional jets pay a reduced landing fee when compared to
their larger cousins, and that means less money for airport
operations. Coupled with a sharp drop in passenger traffic and a
reduced number of flights overall due to the recession, and the
airport authority is finding its self with significantly reduced
revenue. That has led to a strained relationship between the
airline tenants and the airport, as the city struggles with paying
for a major upgrade at one of the world's busiest airports.
While Chicago Aviation Commissioner Rosemarie Andolino
anticipates an increase in travel as the recession eases, the
Airlines say the regional jets are here to stay. American
Spokeswoman Andrea Hugely told the paper it was a simple matter of
matching seats and routes to customer demand. Aviation consultant
Darryl Jenkins said the regional jets operating on codeshares with
the legacy carriers are far more economical for short-haul routes
than a Boeing 737 or an Airbus A320.
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