Surviving a new era of the airline industry



Staff Writer

WOOSTER -- Terrorist threats against the United States do not surprise Andrew Thomas, a University of Akron professor who has written extensively about transportation security.

Despite the Transportation Security Administration's efforts, "bad guys still want to blow up airliners," Thomas said. He was in town Monday to speak to the Wooster Rotary Club about the future of the airlines industry and transportation security.

The Associated Press reported Tuesday about an online graphic that was discovered. It was designed as a mock movie poster indicating al-Qaida was interested in returning soon to New York. Al-Qaida has been linked with the 9/11 terrorist attacks in which airplanes were flown into the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. Another plane, suspected to be headed to the White House or the U.S. Capitol, was overtaken by passengers and crashed into a field outside of Shanksville, Pa. In all, more than 3,000 were killed.

Most of Thomas' discussion centered in a new era in the industry dawned, opening up flying opportunities for more Americans. He told the group he did not want to take too much time and talk about the negative aspects, rather the positive.

One of the problems of the TSA is it always establishes a policy to prevent something after a threat has been detected. After Richard Reid was discovered trying to hide a bomb in his shoe, all flight passengers were required to remove their shoes. Consequently, the TSA is always fighting the last war, Thomas said.

He said al-Qaida has perfected the "booty bomb," an explosive device that can be secreted in a body cavity and escape detection by the TSA's full-body screenings, something Thomas refers to as the "naked scanners."

Given the trajectory of the TSA's, Thomas posited whether posterior checks would be proposed by the agency. If so, then Thomas predicts it will kill the industry.

Since the 9/11 attacks, this country realized for the first time "the airlines industry is something we need," Thomas said. "If 9/11 showed us anything (regarding air travel), it is that we are all in this together. We will never forget 9/11."

When people don't fly, the economy suffers, Thomas said. The airlines have become important for manufacturers who use a just-in-time inventory process, shipping needed medicines and allowing people to travel great distances to attend a loved one's funeral.

Thomas, who logs about 100,000 flight miles annually, recognizes the benefits of air travel and how it is the safest form of travel, yet, he doesn't like to get on a plane. Part of it has to do with the TSA full-body screenings, and part of it has to do with what he calls the "cattle class," those flying in the "back of the plane."

For most of Thomas' flights, he sits in the back of the airplane. It is there where the airlines pack people in and basically adds charges for everything other than the seat. Flights usually look full of passengers because there are fewer flights scheduled, he said. The airlines industry has about a 90 percent occupancy rate.

The cost has come down tremendously over the years, and so has the customer service, Thomas said. Individuals recognize air travel is indispensable, but they want a better experience.

Thirty years ago, a flight from New York to Los Angeles might have cost $2,200. Today, it is around $450-$500.

Lower fares were introduced May 28, 1992, when Northwest Airlines offered a free adult ticket with the purchase of a children's ticket, Thomas said. It was the introduction of the flying cheap model. Within 24 hours, American Airlines followed suit by offering two tickets for the price of one.

It came at a time when the economy was struggling and flights were being canceled because of few or no passengers.

While air travel is important, the industry has yet to have a profitable year, Thomas said. Without government subsidies, the industry might not exist. The government pays for air traffic control services, the TSA and fuel subsidies.

During a question-and-answer period, Sue Crawford asked given the tight economy, what happens with the maintenance of the aircraft.

About two-thirds of the planes flown in this country are serviced outside of the United States, Thomas said, in places like El Salvador, Mexico and China.

Ron Holtman asked whether pre-screening for flights might become an option.

Thomas said yes, noting it has been tried before. The problem, though, he is not willing to provide his personal information because contractors and subcontractors have used the information for other purposes before.


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