Rebecca's voice is just one of many in the rising tide of angry fliers who are finding American Airlines less than reliable this fall. Earlier this week, the airline was forced to cancel 5% of its flights due to a quiet "sick-out" by pilots, angry at the proposed terms of their new contract. Scott McCartney, the nation's foremost expert on business travel, and a columnist for the Wall Street Journal, warned his readers yesterday to avoid American Airlines, at least for the fall months. McCartney claims that, due to pilot actions (allegations that they're taxiing more slowly on the runway and calling in problems with parts that aren't an issue), only 39% of American flights arrived on time this past Monday.
All this poor press can't be good for the already unstable carrier, as it tries emerge from bankruptcy and forge a merger with another airline.
And if this massive carrier goes belly up...well, anyone who wants to get most anywhere in this country is going to find themselves with severely limited--and much pricier--options. Let's all hope American can get their act together...and soon!
Hi Gita, Because American is so huge and so omni-present in some markets, its failure could limit options and raise prices. To give one example: it accounts for over 80% of the landing fees at Dallas/Fort Worth. So Texans would feel it acutely should something happen to American. Overnight their options would cut. It has the same power in a number of other gateways.
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