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On a recent trip from Denver to LaGuardia, our flight was delayed 45 minutes on the taxiway and another 15 minutes in a holding pattern prior to landing. This experience prompted a reply to the Rocky’s Sept. 29 editorial, “The right way to fight air congestion.”

The editorial implies that air congestion can be alleviated by implementation of a user fee system instead of the present “outdated fuel tax system.” On the contrary, the present system has been used for 40 years and is not broken.

The Government Accounting Office and two Department of Transportation reports have stated that the present system will generate sufficient funds to pay for all of the FAA’s objectives.

H.R. 2881, if approved, will provide $13 billion for air-traffic-control modernization and other FAA capital improvements. This is $1 billion more than what the administration proposes. In addition, airports will get $15.8 billion for capital improvements — some $4 billion more than the administration’s request.

The responsibility for airline delays was laid directly at the feet of the airlines during a House hearing on Sept. 26. Pat Forrey, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association stated, “Scheduling during peak hours contributes to delays at the busy airports even in good weather.” The Department of Transportation has started a process to help the busiest airports address this issue of chronic airline overscheduling.

It seems obvious to me that user fees are not required to fund the system or to fix the airlines’ self-inflicted air traffic congestion.

Incidentally, our return flight to Denver from LaGuardia, one week later, was held on the taxiway for one hour and 15 minutes and we were No. 18 for takeoff!

R.J. Doubek is a resident of Centennial and a volunteer with the Airport Support Network.

READER COMMENTS

Airfares are too cheap, leading to excess demand. What you save in fares you give back in delays, poor service and inconvenience. It's Economics 101. there is nothing new under the economic sun my friend...

go start your own airline and promise to never be late or delayed and you will have a following from day one

Like some are saying on the corporation thread, the airlines goal is to profit from your desires. Nothing else matters.
Liam is right, also - turning airlines into buses so everybody under the sun can fly even if they really can't afford it is the leading cause other than CEO salaries cutting back the workforce.

Oh poor meanies, how dare they profit from your desire? Are you kidding me?

Some airlines understand that you can charge a reasonable fare and make money. Econ 101 also tells you that the more competition there is, the lower prices will be. Since the airline industry was deregulated, collusion in pricing went away as a result, and it also opened the door for new airlines.

Econ 101 also tells you that inorder to attract customers, provide the service how and when they want it. Hence conjestion during "peak" hours. As this is "how" and "when" they want it. Some airlines do discount fares based on the time of day you fly. People will sit in traffic minutes and hours per week, yet bitch when their flight is 5 minutes late.

Get over the CEO salary thing already. If you want to make the money they do, start your own business and/or acquire the experience and knowledge they have and become one. As long as you work for someone, they will always make more money than you do.

A job is something you strive to attain and keep. You've got to earn it everyday. No one owes you a damn thing or a paycheck just for being a nice guy...

trucks and cars cause traffic

If God intended for man to fly, he'd have wings.

"...Econ 101 also tells you that inorder to attract customers, provide the service how and when they want it..."

That's only applicable if there is no real competition, as is found in many sectors, including the airlines. I've never heard anyone bumped from a flight say "Gee, this is exactly what I paid for!" Have YOU?

Also, I don't care how much CEOs make. And I never compare what I make to anyone else. It's when a company is not making enough money to avoid having people trapped in an airport for hours that the exorbinant salaries seem a bit off.

Finally,I didn't get the part about getting a job and being paid for being nice. What??

But hey, if you like the way the airlines run now as much as you seem to, I can't really change your mind. I just happen to have a different opinion on quality service for a fair price.

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