News Releases

AIR TRAVELERS ASSOCIATION SAYS U.S. DOT 3-HOUR TARMAC RULE IS A THREAT TO AIRLINE PASSENGER SAFETY

Chevy Chase, MD, April 14, 2010 – David Stempler, President of the Air Travelers Association, an airline passenger advocacy organization, says that the new 3-hour Department of Transportation Tarmac Rule is a threat to airline passenger safety. He stated that, “placing time deadlines on safety related activities should never occur.” He continued, “You should never place a time deadline on when a pilot can safely take off; never set a time deadline on how long an airline mechanic should have to repair a plane; and never set a time deadline on when an air traffic controller can tell a pilot it is safe to takeoff or land.”

          Stempler further states, “The Department of Transportation’s new 3-hour tarmac rule will go into effect on April 29, 2010 and creates not only safety concerns for passengers, but misery in the form of many more cancelled flights. Airlines will not risk incurring DOT fines of up to $27,500 per passenger and will cancel flights before that becomes a possibility. This will result in what we call ‘Cancelassengers’. With flights so full, it could take up to days to get Cancelassengers to their destinations.”

          Stempler continued, “The DOT says that airlines can park extra planes and extra crews at airports to prevent having Cancelassengers. First of all, airlines that are losing millions of dollars cannot afford the extra costs of such idle aircraft and idle crews. And second, it will be passengers that pay for such costs, and passengers have ‘voted with their wallets’ that they are not interested in paying higher fares, even for such services.”

          David Stempler concluded “let’s dump this dangerous and inconvenient new tarmac rule.” For the problem of extended tarmac delays, “the DOT has created a cure that is worse than the disease.”

          The Air Travelers Association, founded in 1997, is a passenger advocacy organization based in Chevy Chase, Maryland, just outside Washington, DC. Its focus is the safety, security, service, and savings of airline passengers. David Stempler, its President, is an internationally-recognized authority on airline passenger and aviation issues.

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AIR TRAVELERS ASSOCIATION ENDORSES BARACK OBAMA FOR PRESIDENT

Potomac, MD, January 7, 2008 – David Stempler, President of the Air Travelers Association, today announced that he and the Association are endorsing Barack Obama for President. The Air Travelers Association (http://www.AirTravelersAssociation.com), founded in 1997, advocates for airline passengers on airline safety, security, savings, and service. David Stempler, President of the Air Travelers Association, is often called the “Voice of Passengers” and is an internationally known authority on airline passenger and air travel issues. David Stempler was recently selected by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation to be the airline passenger/consumer representative on the New York Aviation Rulemaking Committee to reduce aviation congestion and delay in the New York metropolitan area.

According to Stempler, “The best hope for airline passengers to solve the current aviation crisis involving congestion, delay, and dangerous safety, near-collision problems is to quickly get in place a new, GPS-based, next generation, air traffic control system, called ‘NextGen’. We believe that Barack Obama is the best candidate for President, and as a forward-thinking President, will get NextGen passed in Congress, and then quickly implemented and deployed throughout the United States. We give our complete trust and support to Senator Barack Obama who can use his charisma, inspiration, and can-do attitude to solve many of the problems facing this country, including those involving our aviation system.”

Stempler continued, “Every individual, business, company, and corporation, uses airline travel to get around this country and internationally. The troubles of our overburdened aviation system are widespread and affect every person, every package shipper and recipient, and every industry in this country.

Stempler concluded that, “We believe that Senator Barack Obama is the best Presidential candidate to solve our critical aviation problems and to move our airline/aviation system into the 21^st century. We can have GPS navigation systems in any car or truck that we want. There is no reason why we can’t have GPS units in every airliner that we fly on. We believe that Barack Obama will enable us to have safety-based, GPS systems for airliners, sooner than any other candidate for President, and that is why we are endorsing Barack Obama for President.”

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AIR TRAVELERS ASSOCIATION NAMES THE TOP TEN AIRLINE

PASSENGER TRENDS AND ISSUES FOR 2008

Potomac, MD, December 30, 2007 (Business Wire) – David Stempler, President of the Air Travelers Association, today provided the Association’s assessment of the top ten airline passenger trends and issues for 2008.

1.                  The Battle with the Government over Delayed Flights versus High Fares will Continue.

Delayed flights are a political problem stemming from the failure of government to modernize the air traffic control system and build improved airports and runways at existing airport. The Bush Administration is dealing with the large number of delayed flights by capping the number of flights at JFK Airport, and soon will add Newark Airport with capped flights like LaGuardia Airport. We expect that this will drive airfares up and cut flights from the schedule. This has the possibility of becoming a trend for other congested areas and airports around the country. Airports and metropolitan areas that might be subject to flight capping are: Atlanta; Boston; Los Angeles; Miami/Ft. Lauderdale; Washington, DC; Philadelphia; and San Francisco.

2.                  The Airline System will Continue to Operate at or Near Capacity.

Unless there is a recession, the airline system will continue to operate at near capacity. To ensure safety, while operating at capacity, if there is any problem like weather, the FAA just slows the system down.

With the system operating near capacity, the smallest problem can have effects that ripple through the system. In addition, flights are at very high load factors – the percentage of seats that are filled. If planes are 90% full, and if a flight is cancelled, the math shows that it will take at least 6 or more subsequent flights to get the passengers to their destinations. If there are only 2 flights a day to that destination, passengers can be required to wait for up to 3 days to get to their destination. That is why we always encourage airlines to accept delays and avoid cancellations.

3.                  The Start of the Next Generation Air Traffic Control System will continue to be Delayed.

The Next Generation Air Traffic Control System (NextGen) is stuck in the Congress over funding for the GPS satellite-based system. The battle is over whether each user of the system should pay their fair share of the costs of their usage of the system. The airlines and their passengers having been overpaying for years, and the corporate jets operators, who operate their “air limousines”, have been underpaying. The corporate jet crowd would like to keep things just the way they are and are blocking the “fair share” approach.

The Air Travelers Association has called for an Aviation Summit with Kenneth Feinberg, the 9/11 Victims Fund Administrator as the mediator, but so far no takers. Without it, the stalemate will extend well into 2008.

4.                  There will be More Reports of Near Collisions in the Air and On the Ground.

With the combination of a continuing dispute between the National Air Traffic Controllers Association and the FAA, the installation of more precise ground-based radars, the heightening crush of aircraft in the air and on the ground, and even some human errors, fatigue, and inexperience, the number of reported near collisions in the air and on the ground will continue.

5.                  The Battle Over the Passengers’ Bill of Rights versus Passengers Rights to Get to Their Destination Will Continue.

The battle will continue over whether a “Passengers’ Bill of Rights” that forces the plane back to the terminal after a certain amount of time will best serve passengers interests. But what about the right of passengers who say, “We’ve invested this much time already, don’t cancel the flight by going back to the terminal, but get me to that meeting, wedding, court appearance, cruise, vacation, dying relative, critical appointment, or any of the thousands of reason people fly.” In addition, 50 different state “Passenger Bills of Rights” is no answer for a national airline system.

6.                  Watch for Domestic Airlines to Merge or Accept Foreign Carrier Investments.

Some believe if there is to be consolidation in the airline business it may come early in 2008, so that they can be completed while the Bush Administration is still in office. The feeling is that the Democrats are likely to take over the White House and will be tougher on mergers, especially if they represent a threat to labor, which the Democrats will be beholden to if they win the election.

Lufthansa’s purchase of 19% of JetBlue may start a trend. For Lufthansa, it provides great traffic feed to Lufthansa flights that can now go all over Europe under the new US-EU treaty. It may also be a company that Lufthansa can buy very valuable JFK slots from, now that JFK will be slot capped. Delta has a huge number of slots at JFK, as does American. What are the possibilities?

7.                  Expect More Regional Jets in Our Future.

As passengers continue to demand low fares, the only way that many of the old-line, legacy carriers can produce these fares is operating flights through their regional partners, operating regional jets of all sizes. To the extent that passengers still remain low fares, which we think will continue into 2008, the proliferation of regional jets will continue into 2008.

8.                  There will be Continued Service Problems with Airlines with Labor Disputes.

Those airlines that are having union difficulties with their pilots, mechanics, and flight attendants will continue to have service problems. Pilots who don’t agree to work “above and beyond” the terms of their contract and don’t agree to work extra hours can cause service problems at airlines. All of these groups of workers are unhappy with their managements who have taken huge amounts of stock, received large bonuses and dividends, while the workers have lost their pensions and have had their salaries cut, can be the cause of continuing problems.

9.                  The Competition Between the Super-Jumbo Airbus A380 versus Super-Nonstop Boeing 787 will Begin in 2009.

The Boeing 787 will begin flight testing in 2008 and the battle will be joined the following year between the big bet that Boeing and Airbus have made with their aircraft production. The A380 Super-Jumbo will enable around 500 passengers in 3-class service to travel from hub cities to hub cities. On the other hand, the Boeing 787 with approximately 225 seats in 3-classes, will allow airlines to fly nonstop from their home airport to distant destination on the other half of the globe. Which will win? We shall see. But the battle will be joined in 2009.

10.              The Battle Between Residents on the Ground Over Noise and Airline Passengers in the Air will Continue.

As the first steps in modernizing the air traffic control system like the New York/New Jersey/Philadelphia Airspace Redesign, many old air routes (like the old 2-lane, US Highway system) must be converted to modern, multi-lane routes (like the Interstate Highway System), and the people on the ground, under these new routes are complaining and want this modernization to stop. These are many of the same people who want discount flights and don’t want delayed flights for their own trips. It is a conflict that will continue into 2008.

The Air Travelers Association (http://AirTravelersAssociation.com), founded in 1997, advocates for airline passengers on airline safety, security, savings, and service. David Stempler, President of the Air Travelers Association, was the airline passenger/consumer representative on the New York Aviation Rulemaking Committee to reduce aviation congestion and delay in the New York metropolitan area, David Stempler is an internationally known authority on airline passenger and air travel issues.

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AIR TRAVELERS ASSOCIATION ASKS SECRETARY PETERS - WHAT DO AUCTIONS OF SLOTS AT JFK AIRPORT HAVE TO DO WITH REDUCING DELAYS AND CONGESTION IN THE NEW YORK/NEWARK AREA?

Bush Administration is expected today to cap flights at JFK and perhaps Newark Airports, and may propose to withdraw and auction off up to 10% of the slots at JFK to the highest bidder.

Press Availability of Air Travelers Association after DOT/FAA announcement at 11:00 AM outside FAA Flow Control Center in Herndon, Virginia

Potomac, MD, December 19, 2007 – David Stempler, President of the Air Travelers Association, today asked Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters what place auctions of slots have in the program to reduce congestion and delay in the New York/Newark metropolitan area. According to Stempler, under the slot auction plan expected to be delivered by Secretary Peters today, “All we end up with is the same number of planes, but with different paint jobs on the side. Unless those planes are helicopters, these slot auctions provide no relief to the congestion and delay problem at the New York/Newark airports.”

According to Stempler, “Higher fares may result from the auctions, because the airline winners of the auctions will have to pay a very high price for the slots, and this inevitably will be passed onto passengers in the form of higher airfares. These high slot auction costs for passengers will be added to the higher airfares from slots caps and higher fuel prices. All of this will add up to significantly higher airfares. These DOT proposals to raise airfares come at a time when airlines are stressed financially and the economy is struggling to stay out of recession.”

Stempler continued, “The mere threat of taking and then auctioning off slots will cast a pall over the financial markets and creditworthiness of both airlines and airport authorities and the financial institutions that financed them. So whatever the Government gains from the slot auctions, will be lost in lower stock and bond prices, lower corporate income tax and excise tax revenues, and lower employment, all at a time when the Government can least afford it with the subprime mortgage crisis.”

“The Air Travelers Association truly believes that the best market-based solution for the aviation congestion problem is the market itself. Apparently the Bush Administration doesn’t feel that the market is the best solution, so it is using big Government’s regulatory powers to attempt to solve it, something that President Bush promised that he would not do in his last two presidential elections campaigns.”

Stempler continued, “Our view of slot auctions is that they should only be used for new capacity created at an airport. New capacity means just that - new airport slot capacity gained from new runways, taxiways, or air traffic control improvements. Slots that result from merely returning to prior slot usage is not new capacity, and the numbers should not be rigged to call them ‘new slots’.”

The Air Travelers Association (http://AirTravelersAssociation.com), founded in 1997, advocates for airline passengers on airline safety, security, savings, and service. David Stempler, President of the Air Travelers Association, was the airline passenger/consumer representative on the New York Aviation Rulemaking Committee to reduce aviation congestion and delay in the New York metropolitan area, David Stempler is an internationally known authority on airline passenger and air travel issues.

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AIR TRAVELERS ASSOCIATION PLEADS TO PRESIDENT BUSH AND TRANSPORTaTION SECRETARY PETERS – “PLEASE DON’T RAISE AIRFARES AND CUT FLIGHTS TO AND FROM THE NEW YORK/NEWARK AREA”

Administration Proposals to Cap Flights at JFK and Newark and to Auction Slots is a Bad Idea Whose Time Has Not Come

Air Travelers Association Calls on President Bush and the Congress to Convene an Aviation Industry Summit to Agree on the Funding for the NextGen Air Traffic Control System and Appoint Kenneth Feinberg to Mediate the Dispute at the Summit

Potomac, MD, December 17, 2007 – David Stempler, President of the Air Travelers Association, the airline passenger/consumer representative on the New York Aviation Rulemaking Committee to reduce aviation congestion and delay in the New York metropolitan area, pleaded today, in advance of statements by the Bush Administration, “Please Mr. President and Secretary Peters, don’t raise airfares and cuts flights to and from the New York/Newark metropolitan area by capping flights at JFK and Newark Airports. Many laws are made and repealed in Washington, but it is the ‘law of supply and demand’ that cannot be repealed by any Administration. By limiting the supply of flights at JFK/Newark, with the demand remaining the same, fares in the entire New York/Newark metropolitan area will shoot up. That’s not the result that passengers wanted in exchange for lowered delay flights.”

According to Stempler, “Aviation congestion in the New York/Newark metropolitan area is a delicate balance between low fares, flight time, airport choices, and delay. Proposals to limit or cap airport operations called ‘slots’, slot auctions, and even the now discarded congestion pricing idea for airports, only will have bad results for passengers - higher fares and fewer flights. Airline passengers are not interested in reduced flight delays at the cost of significantly higher airfares and significantly fewer flights.” Stempler continued, “New Yorkers, remember those $69 fares to Ft. Lauderdale? Well you can forget about it! They are going to go up to $169, $269, $369, or higher. Who knows? But that high fare flight is going to be on time. What a deal!”

David Stempler continued, “The Bush Administration has taken a bad idea and made it worse with slot auctions. Everybody on the Committee was generally in agreement that a slot auction for new slots was an acceptable idea. But taking away slots from airlines that have invested billions of dollars in facilities at New York/Newark airports and planes to service them, seem to us patently unfair. It reminds me of Hugo Chávez’s nationalizing of oil companies in Venezuela. Most Americans find that offensive. Is nationalizing airline slots what we’ve come to in this country because someone spent 30 minutes extra waiting to take off? I say no!” Stempler concluded, “Fair is fair, and this is not fair!”

Stempler continued, “These caps on flights at JFK and Newark are just a Band-Aid® on a festering disease. Delays are just one symptom of the disease, but near collisions on the air and on the ground are another. The real, long-term solutions to these safety and efficiency problems is to put into service a new, safety-based, GPS, next generation air traffic control system (‘NextGen’), as soon as possible. Airline safety, savings, and service depend on it.”

David Stempler concluded, “The Air Travelers Association calls upon the following U.S. Government officials to convene an aviation summit of all of the interested aviation parties - the legacy airlines, low fare carriers, regional airlines, airline passengers, airports, corporate jet and private aviation operators - to find a solution to the current funding stalemate, that would start the implementation of NextGen immediately.

President George W. Bush;

U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters;

Senator John D. Rockefeller, IV, Chairman of the Senate Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security Subcommittee;

Senator Patty Murray, Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Transportation, House and Urban Development, and Related Agencies;

Congressman Jerry F. Costello, Chairman of House Subcommittee on Aviation; and

John W. Olver, Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Transportation, House and Urban Development, and Related Agencies.

The Air Travelers Association suggests that Kenneth Feinberg be appointed by the Government to be the mediator of such a summit. Mr. Feinberg was selected by Attorney General John Ashcroft to administer the September 11^th Victim Compensation Fund, established by the Congress shortly after the September 11^th terrorist attacks. He has also handled other complex legal disputes over the past 30 years, including Agent Orange, asbestos, and the closing of the Shoreham Nuclear Plant. According to Stempler, “There is no finer, world-class mediator than Kenneth Feinberg, and the aviation industry would be fortunate to have him for the aviation industry summit”.

The Air Travelers Association (http://AirTravelersAssociation.com), founded in 1997, advocates for airline passengers on airline safety, security, savings, and service. David Stempler, President of the Air Travelers Association, is an internationally known authority on airline passenger and air travel issues. He was the airline passenger/consumer representative on the New York Aviation Rulemaking Committee to reduce aviation congestion and delay in the New York metropolitan area

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AIR TRAVELERS ASSOCIATION FILES PROTEST TO U.S. DOT SECRETARY OVER SUMMARY DENIALS OF ITS “PASSENGERS FIRST” PROPOSALS IN THE NEW YORK AVIATION CONGESTION/DELAY COMMITTEE

Potomac, MD, December 3, 2007 – David Stempler, President of the Air Travelers Association, today filed a formal appeal and protest to U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) Secretary Mary Peters over the summary denials of its “Passengers First” proposals in the New York Aviation Rulemaking Committee organized by the Secretary to deal with aviation congestion and delay in the New York metropolitan area (“NY ARC”). According to Stempler, “These summary denials were issued by Secretary Peters’ subordinates, DOT General Counsel, D.J. Gribbin, Chairman of the NY ARC, and by Rebecca MacPherson, Assistant Chief Counsel of the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for Regulations. At a time when the Bush Administration is trying to spread democracy around the world, it is appropriate that Secretary Peters bring democracy to the operations of her own DOT.”

The Air Travelers Association is the airline passenger/consumer representative on the NY ARC, and submitted its “Passengers First” proposals to represent the best interests of airline passengers. The Air Travelers Association protested to Secretary Peters the summary denial of all of these proposals and requested that the Secretary overturn the rulings of her subordinates and allow these proposals to be considered by the NY ARC and be subject to a vote of the members of the NY ARC for presentation to her and then to the President, who will ultimately become the “decider” on these issues, according to Stempler.

The following are some of the “Passengers First” proposals summarily denied by Gribbin or MacPherson, and sought to be overturned by Secretary Mary Peters.

1.                  DENIED.        The Air Travelers Association’s request to have a recorded vote of the members of the NY ARC members on each of the proposals to be submitted to the DOT Secretary and then submitted to the President.

2.                  DENIED.        Proposal by the Air Travelers Association to eliminate all corporate jet operations at LaGuardia Airport; replace them with higher passenger capacity airline flights; and then convert the freed-up corporate jet ramps for use as delayed airliner aircraft holding pads.

3.                  DENIED.        Proposal by the Air Travelers Association to have a separate NY ARC to deal with the complexity of the issues just related to New York’s LaGuardia Airport.

4.                  DENIED.        Proposal by the Air Travelers Association to eliminate the 1500-mile perimeter limitation for flights to and from LaGuardia Airport, only when combined with proposals to move beyond perimeter flights from JFK Airport to LaGuardia, and combined with reallocating slots at LaGuardia.

5.                  DENIED.        Proposal by the Air Travelers Association to eliminate all “non-standard” departures at LaGuardia Airport.

6.                  DENIED.        Proposal by the Air Travelers Association to eliminate all published airline connections at LaGuardia Airport.

Stempler continued stating that, “if the DOT Secretary does not review and overturn these Denials, the report of the NY ARC may be flawed, resulting in: either a continuation or worsening of the current New York airline/aviation delay situation into the Summer of 2008; substantially higher airfares; substantially fewer flights; or some combination of all of the above.”

The Air Travelers Association (http://AirTravelersAssociation.com), founded in 1997, advocates for airline passengers on airline safety, security, savings, and service. David Stempler, President of the Air Travelers Association, is an internationally known authority on airline passenger and air travel issues.

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AIR TRAVELERS ASSOCIATION SUBMI TS “PASSENGERS FIRST” PROPOSED SOLUTIONS FOR THE NEW YORK AVIATION CONGESTION CRISIS

Potomac, MD, November 28, 2007 – David Stempler, President of the Air Travelers Association, today submitted some of the Association’s “Passengers First” proposed solutions to the U.S. Department of Transportation to deal with the aviation congestion crisis in the New York area. Stempler stated, “Because there is no ‘silver bullet’ solution to the New York aviation congestion problem which would produce a significant improvement, the Air Travelers Association believes that aggregating a number of smaller improvements will produce the significant improvement that we are looking for.”

Stempler continued, “The Air Travelers Association is the airline passenger/consumer representative on the U.S. DOT’s New York Aviation Rulemaking Committee, established to deal with aviation congestion in the New York metropolitan area. There have been a large number of proposals discussed in the Committee and the following ‘Passengers First’ Solutions were submitted by the Air Travelers Association.

Ø      Eliminate All Corporate Jet Operations at LaGuardia Airport and Convert the Corporate Jet Ramps for Use by Airline Aircraft as Delayed Aircraft Holding Pads.

·        Eliminating corporate jets would immediately add airline operating slots at LaGuardia Airport and serve the greatest number of people. Corporate jets have multiple other convenient airports that they can use instead of LaGuardia, but airlines can only use Islip Airport in Eastern Long Island and Stewart Airport in Duchess County, New York, both inconvenient for airline passengers traveling to Manhattan.

·        Delayed aircraft holding pads are airport ramps where airliners can park after pushing back from the gate and required to wait prior to take-off, or are delayed after landing. When airliners are parked at these holding pads, passengers can use cell phones, move around the cabin, use aircraft lavatories, and in an emergency, passengers can safely be removed from the aircraft. These pads are expensive and take a long time to build. By taking over corporate jet aircraft facilities, these holding pads can be available almost immediately and serve the interests of a far greater number of passengers than in corporate jets.

Ø      Do Not Permit “Non-Standard” Departures at LaGuardia Airport.

·        “Non-Standard” departures involve the use of a runway by an aircraft when that runway is not then in use. Aircraft requests for “non-standard” departures at LaGuardia often arise because the aircraft, as loaded, cannot take-off and climb within required FAA and other operational requirements from the runway in use. “Non-standard” departures can result in substantial disruption and delays at LaGuardia. It is like sending a car down the opposite direction of the Long Island Expressway in rush hour, with all the disruptions and delays that would cause.

·        To reduce delays at LaGuardia, the FAA should not permit “non-standard” departures at LaGuardia at any time. If wind, weather, or heat conditions do not permit an aircraft to take-off on the runway then in use, then the aircraft must offload cargo, passengers, luggage, fuel, or other weight items to take-off on the runway in use, wait until the conditions are favorable for the runway being used, or cancel the flight.

Ø      Eliminate All Published Airline Connections at LaGuardia Airport.

·        The highest, best, and most efficient use of LaGuardia Airport is based on its proximity to Manhattan. Because of this, only passengers originating from and destined to LaGuardia should be served at LaGuardia.

·        To reduce unnecessary passenger demand at LGA, the U.S. Department of Transportation should prohibit airlines from publishing airline connecting flights through La Guardia. Published connections represent less than 5% of total passengers at LaGuardia, but this is extra passenger demand that is not needed at LaGuardia. These connecting passengers can be served through other hub airports.

Ø      Consider Eliminating the 1500-mile Perimeter Limitation for Flights to and from LaGuardia. Allow Airlines to Move Beyond Perimeter Flights from JFK Airport to LaGuardia, and Reallocate Slots at LaGuardia to Accomplish This.

The 1500-mile LaGuardia perimeter limitation is a rule of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. With the congestion and delay situation that is now being faced in the New York metropolitan area, the elimination of the LaGuardia perimeter rule, along with allowing airlines to move beyond perimeter flights from JFK Airport to LaGuardia, and together with other changes, trades, compromises, and adjustments, could allow a reduction of congestion at JFK Airport and reduce delays in the entire New York area.

Ø      For all Airline Delays and Congestion, Change the DOT and FAA Definitions of “Delay”. These Definitions are Antiquated, Unrealistic, and Out of Touch with the Current Congestion Reality. Fix the Definitions and Passengers Will Get a More Realistic Understanding of the Congestion/Delay Situation.

·     The DOT definitions of when a flight is delayed, as arriving 15 minutes after the scheduled arrival time is not meaningful in today’s congested flying environment. This 15-minute standard does not relate to the scheduled flight time of a trip. A 15-minute delay on a one-hour flight (25% of the trip time), is more significant that a 15-minute delay on a 6-hour flight (about 4% of the trip time). Actually, in today’s flying environment, no passenger would seriously complain about a 15-minute delay.

·     The FAA’s definition of when an airport is in delay is based on the unencumbered taxi-out times from each gate to the end of the runway, like in the middle of the night. Actual taxi-out times at each airport at congested times of the day should be the benchmark for whether any airport is in delay.

The Air Travelers Association (http://AirTravelersAssociation.com), founded in 1997, advocates for airline passengers on airline safety, security, savings, and service. David Stempler, President of the Air Travelers Association, is an internationally known authority on airline passenger and air travel issues.

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AIR TRAVELERS ASSOCIATION SAYS FOLLOW THE 3 “BE’S” FOR SMOOTH HOLIDAY AIRLINE TRAVEL — “BE EARLY”, “BE INFORMED”, “BE PREPARED”

  Potomac, MD, November 19, 2007 – David Stempler, President of the Air Travelers Association, advised airline passengers over the holiday season to “Follow the 3 ‘Be’s’ for smooth holiday airline travel – Be Early, Be Informed, Be Prepared. If you follow this advice, you will be in a better position to defend yourself against the ‘slings and arrows’ that you may confront in dealing with today’s congested aviation environment, especially in this upcoming holiday season.” Stempler continued, “The 3 ‘Be’s’ for smooth holiday airline travel are as follows.”

Be Early

·        Be Early Rule #1 — you can never be too early for your flight.

·        Be Early Rule #2 — Allowing extra time is often the only thing that gives you the ability to solve many airline delay problems.

·        Be Early Rule #3 — For holiday travel, provide at least twice the time you normally would allow for each segment of the travel process.

·        Be Early Rule #4 — Arrive early at the departure gate and board the aircraft as early as possible to help to avoid being bumped from your flight.

Be Informed

Be Informed About Your Flight and Use Advance, Online Check-in to Obtain Your Boarding Pass

Ø      Confirm all of your flights well before departure day either online or through the airline’s toll-free telephone numbers.

Ø      Check-in and print boarding passes online at least 24 hours before departure.

Ø      Confirm the actual departure time of all of your flights: before leaving for the airport; when you get to the airport; and when you are waiting at the airport. Things change.

Be Informed (cont’d.)

Be Informed About Your Airline’s Rules

Ø      Check the airline’s rules for check-in times and for boarding times at the gate. When flights are full, such as during the holidays, airlines will start boarding even earlier.

Ø      Check the airline’s rules for the number, size, and weight of carry-on and checked bags.

Be Informed About the TSA Rules

Ø      Know the Transportation Security Administration rules at http://www.tsa.gov for what you can and cannot bring through security checkpoints.

Ø      Know the TSA 3-3-1 Rule for liquids and gels in carry-on bags – 3-ounce containers in 1 quart-sized zip-top bag with only 1 zip-top bag per passenger.

Be Prepared

Be Prepared to Use Self-Service, Check-in Kiosks

Ø      Use check-in kiosks to obtain boarding passes, obtain or change seats, and at some airports to check bags.

Ø      Go directly to the security checkpoint if you have a boarding pass and no bags to check.

Be Prepared to Check Any Bags

Ø      Confirm that all checked bags have bag tags on the outside and inside that contain your name, address, e-mail address, home phone number, cell phone number, destination phone number, and flight information.

Ø      Important Note: Never pack anything in checked bags that are breakable, valuable, irreplaceable, necessary for your health, required for your identification, or absolutely essential for your trip.

Be Prepared for the Security Check Point

Ø      Be prepared to show your photo identification and boarding pass.

Ø      Be prepared to offload all of your metal objects into your carry-on bag before entering into the security line.

Be Prepared for Long Lines and Delays from the Time you Arrive at the Airport Until You Get on the Plane.

Ø      Be prepared for: lines on the roads into the airport; lines to get into the parking lots; lines at the check-in counter; lines at the security checkpoint; lines to get food and drinks; lines at the Starbucks; and lines at the gate.

Ø      Be prepared to be self sufficient during flight delays on the aircraft, by bringing food and snacks with you from home and buying drinks after passing through the security checkpoint.

Be Prepared for Long Lines and Delays from the Time you Arrive at the Airport Until You Get on the Plane. (Cont’d.)

Ø      Be prepared to call the toll-free number of your airline if your flight is cancelled or delayed, to re-accommodate yourself on an earlier or later flight. Do this in addition to standing in line with passengers waiting to be accommodated, until you are re-accommodated on the phone or at the desk.

Ø      Be prepared to call your car rental company, local ground service provider, or those waiting for you at the destination airport to keep them advised of your delayed or cancelled flight.

Be Ready to Have a Good Flight and a Happy Holiday!

The Air Travelers Association (http://airtravelersassociation.com) advocates for airline passengers on airline safety, security, savings, and service. David Stempler, President of the Air Travelers Association, is an internationally known authority on airline passenger and air travel issues.

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AIR TRAVELERS ASSOCIATION CHEERS BUSH ADMINISTRATION’S ACTIONS TO REDUCE AVIATION CONGESTION -- JUST IN TIME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Potomac, MD November 15, 2007 – David Stempler, President of the Air Travelers Association, stated in advance of President Bush’s statement today on aviation congestion, “Passengers will be elated that the President has stepped up to the plate to confront the ever-worsening problem of aviation delays. The changes to be announced today by the President are a good first step in tackling this major problem.”

Stempler continued, “As the airline passenger/consumer representative on the Bush Administration’s Committee to combat delays in the New York metropolitan area, we have been working week-in and week-out to come up with solutions for the aviation congestion problem, and we are very gratified that the President has cut through the red tape and will immediately institute some of these solutions, just in time for the upcoming holidays.”

The Air Travelers Association advocates for airline passengers on airline safety, security, savings, and service. David Stempler, President of the Air Travelers Association, is an internationally known authority on airline passenger and air travel issues.

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AIRLINE PASSENGERS FLYING TO AND FROM NEW YORK BEWARE – THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION’S MOVE TO CUT FLIGHTS WILL RAISE AIR FARES

Passenger Association Proposes Voluntary Passenger Changes To Avoid Flight Cuts

Potomac, MD October 23, 2007 – In a statement issued by the Air Travelers Association in advance of today’s U.S. Government ordered JFK Airport scheduling conference, David Stempler, President of the Air Travelers Association, warned airline passengers flying to or from New York area airports to, “Stop, Look, and Listen, because the Bush Administration is getting ready to cut flights, which will result in increased air fares for all New York and Newark airports!”

Stempler stated, “By cutting flights, DOT Secretary Mary Peters is forcing airline passengers to trade delayed flights, for no flights or very expensive flights. That’s a bad deal!” He continued that, “Under the guise of reducing airline flight delays, the Bush Administration is going to sacrifice airline passengers’ needs at the altar of congestion relief.”

“Remember that 8:00 AM flight that you could take to get to your 10:30 AM meeting?” Stempler asked. “Well, forget it! The Bush Administration is going to force airlines to cancel that flight and make you fly the night before and add a hotel room stay to your costs. How’s that for congestion relief?”

Stempler continued, “What can passengers do about airline congestion before the Government drops the axe and cuts flights resulting in increased fares? We can band together and try to reduce the congestion problem ourselves. How?

Ø If you can fly during non rush hours, do it.

Ø If you can use less-congested New York area airports like Islip Airport (ISP) on Long Island or Stewart International Airport (SWF) in Newburgh, New York , do it.

Ø If you can fly during the weekends instead of weekdays, do it.”

Stempler concluded that, “anything that we can do as passengers to stop the Bush Administration from cutting flights resulting in increased fares flights will help. Start now, before it’s too late!”

The Air Travelers Association advocates for airline passengers on airline safety, security, savings, and service. David Stempler, President of the Air Travelers Association, is an internationally known authority on airline passenger and air travel issues.

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AIR TRAVELERS ASSOCIATION OPPOSES THE AIRLINE PASSENGERS' BILL OF RIGHTS AS "FEEL GOOD, BUT NOT DO GOOD FOR PASSENGERS"

Potomac, MD April 9, 2007 - David Stempler, President of the Air Travelers Association, an airline passenger advocacy group, announced today their opposition to the proposed Airline Passengers' Bill of Rights ("PBOR") because it will produce worse results for passengers. According to Stempler, "the proposed legislation is feel good, but ironically will not do good for passengers."

The proposed PBOR will increase flight cancellations instead of flight delays.

Under the proposed PBOR, one passenger will have the right to exit an airliner after 3 hours on the ground prior to departure or arrival, with two 30-minute extensions, except if there is a risk to passenger safety or security. The easiest way for airlines to deal with this rule is to cancel flights. Flight cancellations are much worse for passengers than flight delays, because at least passengers arrive at their destination, but late. With a cancellation, passengers may take days or never get to their destination, especially with today's crowded flights with so few seats available on subsequent flights.

The proposed PBOR will increase air fares.

Increased flight cancellations reduce revenue and increase costs. In addition, the PBOR's requirement to carry food onboard every flight, every day, to every destination, in the likelihood, regardless of how remote, that the flight might be delayed on the ground, will increase airline costs and increase air fares.

The proposed PBOR can potentially reduce safety.

We oppose any laws or regulations that create financial penalties for delaying, cancelling, or diverting airline flights. Our concern is that penalties based on time might put subtle pressure on airline safety personnel to cut corners to avoid the resulting financial penalties.

The PBOR gives one passenger veto power over the decisions of the pilots, flight dispatchers, safety officials, meteorologists, air traffic controllers, other safety personnel, and all the other passengers on a flight.

We believe that operational control of airliners should always remain with trained, certificated safety personnel and not given over to one passenger. That one passenger can cause a flight to be cancelled and then affect all of the other passengers on the flight by cancelling their vacation, cruise, business meeting, family visit, or any of the other thousands of reasons people travel.

The marketplace provides sufficient penalties to discipline the airlines for extensive delays and no government-imposed penalties are needed.

The marketplace has effectively disciplined JetBlue for its transgressions, with huge financial penalties to their profits, and passengers have voted with their wallets about JetBlue's handling of passengers. In this way the airline has suffered the consequences, and not the passengers, as would occur with the proposed PBOR.

Stempler concluded that, "passengers angry at the airlines tend to be in favor of the PBOR because they want to punish the airlines. But in fact, it will punish themselves. It's like trying to shoot an arrow at the airlines and the arrow going right through the airlines and hitting passengers in the chest. The PBOR will hurt passengers, not help them."

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AIR TRAVELERS ASSOCIATION TO REPRESENT AIRLINE PASSENGERS ON AIRBUS A380 SUPER-JUMBO DEMONSTRATION FLIGHT TODAY AT WASHINGTON DULLES AIRPORT

Potomac, MD March 26, 2007 – David Stempler, President of the Air Travelers Association, will represent airline passengers on the demonstration flight of the Airbus A380 Super-Jumbo, double-decker jet, from Washington Dulles International Airport today at 11:00 AM. The flight is scheduled to return to Dulles Airport at 12:30 PM.

David Stempler will be available for interviews before and after the A380 demonstration flight at the Dulles Jet Center media center at Washington Dulles International Airport.

“why PAY higher AVIATION TAXES THAN A ROCK STAR, WHEN you DON’T FLY LIKE ONE?” ASKS THE AIR TRAVELERS ASSOCIATION

Potomac, MD March 20, 2007 – In a statement issued in advance of the House Aviation Subcommittee hearing on FAA reauthorization scheduled for March 21, 2007, David Stempler, President of the Air Travelers Association, asked, “Why should airline passengers pay more aviation taxes than a rock star flying in a private, corporate jet, when airline passengers don’t fly like one?”

Stempler explained that, “the current system of aviation taxes is unfair because the same aircraft, operated on the same route, using the same air traffic control services, pays vastly different amounts when used by airline passengers versus rock stars and other privileged users of their own corporate jets. For example, an airline Boeing 737 operating from New York to Chicago with airline passengers pays $1,356 in aviation taxes. Yet the same Boeing 737 operated for a rock star will pay $276. That’s almost 5 times more taxes for the airline passengers on the same aircraft on the same route. How is that fair when the rock star and other corporate jet users can easily afford the same taxes paid by airline passengers?”

“Why the big difference in taxes?” asks Stempler. “Aviation taxes were established over 35 years when the air traffic control system was mostly used by the airlines. Now the skies are flooded with corporate jets and they are not paying their fair share of their use of the system. As recently forecast by the Federal Aviation Administration, the congestion at our airports and in the skies is only going to get worse in the future,” Stempler concluded.

“So when you’re in a passenger seat in a long line of airliners waiting to take off, and you see one of those corporate jets land or take-off, they should stop and thank you for the ‘free ride’, because you and your fellow airline passengers are paying for those corporate jets to fly on the cheap,” Stempler said.

Stempler concluded that “with airlines using less than 70% of the aviation system but airline passengers paying for almost 95% of it, aviation taxes should be changed so that airline passengers are no longer forced to subsidize the operation of corporate jets for corporate executives, rock stars, real estate moguls, and other wealthy individuals.”

AIR TRAVELERS ASSOCIATION SAYS AIRLINE PASSENGERS SHOULD NO LONGER BE REQUIRED TO SUBSIDIZE CORPORATE JETS

Potomac, MD March 7, 2007 – In a letter submitted to the Senate Aviation Subcommittee for their March 8, 2007 hearing on FAA reauthorization, David Stempler, President of the Air Travelers Association, said “aviation taxes and fees must be adjusted so that airline passengers are no longer forced to subsidize the operation of corporate jets. Corporate executives, entertainers, real estate moguls, and other fat cats have been getting a free ride from airlines passengers for over 25 years and this must stop!”

Stempler continued, “According to the FAA’s most recent analysis, airlines and their passengers use about 70% of air traffic control costs, yet contribute almost 95% of the revenue into the Airport and Airways Trust Fund that funds the system. Who benefits from this inequity . . . the users of Learjets, Gulfstream jets, Falcon jets, and the like. If they can afford these planes, believe me, they can afford the fair and equitable taxes that go with using them.”

Stempler continued, "As airline passengers we have been taxed, charged, and 'fee'd' to excess. We pay the passenger ticket tax, passenger facility charges, flight segment fees, international flight taxes, and airline security fees, all of which can add up to more than 20% to 50% of an airline ticket. Without aviation tax reform this could get even higher and threaten the continued availability of low airfares.”

Stempler then said, “The ‘air-limo’ crowd says that the airlines are just trying to shift the aviation tax burden to corporate jets. That’s right! Aviation taxes should properly be shifted from airline passengers, who have been overpaying for years, to the corporate jet crowd that has been underpaying for years.”

Stempler concluded, “all that passengers are asking is that corporate jets pay their fair and equitable share of what they use of the aviation system . . . no more, no less. Airline passengers have been footing the bill for corporate jets for too long, and it must stop.”

AIR TRAVELERS ASSOCIATION SUPPORTS QUICK REPEAL OF WRIGHT AMENDMENT FOLLOWING SENATE HEARINGS

Potomac, MD, November 10, 2005 – David Stempler, President of the Air Travelers Association, called for immediate repeal of the Wright Amendment, and he applauded the Senate for holding hearings on this issue. Repeal would end restrictions at Dallas Love Field that limit low fares for airline passengers from Dallas and the rest of the nation. Stempler sought quick action stating, “the Wright Amendment is one of the last vestiges of regulation in a deregulated airline industry and it is time for it to go.”

Stempler also stated that, “the Wright Amendment debate should be about the best interests of airline passengers, not just the best interests of airlines, airports or cities.” He concluded that, “an unrestricted Dallas Love Field will provide a free and open airline market that will best serve the interests of airline consumers.”

The Air Travelers Association focuses on airline passenger savings, service, security, and safety, and provides travel information and emergency traveler benefits for its members.

AIR TRAVELERS ASSOCIATION SEEKS ‘INDEPENDENCE DAY’ for airline PASSENGERS ¾ dallas MUST open to competition BY REPEAL OF THE WRIGHT AMENDMENT

Potomac, MD, June 28, 2005 – David Stempler, President of the Air Travelers Association, today announced the Association’s support for the repeal of the Wright Amendment, which would open up Love Field in Dallas, all of Texas, and the rest of the nation to low fares to and through Dallas. “As we celebrate our nation’s Independence Day this weekend, passengers can only dream of the millions of dollars they would save if Dallas was freed from the tyranny of the Wright Amendment,” Stempler stated.

According to Stempler, “Dallas/Ft. Worth is the last battle in the ‘War of Independence’ for airline passengers. Airline passengers flying to and from the following ‘colonies’ could benefit from the low fares to and through Dallas Love Field ¾ Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.”

Stempler also noted that, “passengers from the eight Wright Amendment states ¾Alabama, Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas¾ would also benefit from low fare flights to the other 42 states. We see the repeal of the Wright Amendment as a nationwide issue since it will provide low fares throughout America.”

Stempler concluded, “As we kick off the summer with the July 4^th weekend, let’s ring the Liberty Bell for low fares throughout the land and support the repeal of the Wright Amendment!”

The Air Travelers Association is a member-supported organization, headquartered in Potomac, MD. The Air Travelers Association focuses on airline passenger savings, service, security, and safety, and provides travel information and emergency traveler benefits to its members. Membership is $49.95 per year, with enrollment on the Internet at AirTravelersAssocation.com. David Stempler, President of the Air Travelers Association, is an internationally known authority on travel and traveler issues.

AIR TRAVELERS ASSOCIATION OPPOSES PROPOSED AIRLINE SECURITY FEE INCREASES

Washington, DC, February 10, 2005 – "Enough already!" was the response by David Stempler, President of the Air Travelers Association, when asked about the Bush Administration's proposal to increase airline security fees from 60% to 120%. According to Stempler, "It's not that we don't want good security when we fly, it's just that passengers shouldn't have to pay for it all, when the entire country benefits from a safe, efficient, free-flowing air transportation system".

Stempler continued, "As passengers we have been taxed, charged, and 'fee'd' to an excess. In addition to the airline security fees, we pay the passenger ticket tax, passenger facility charges, flight segment fees, and international flight taxes and fees, all of which can add up to more than 20% of a ticket and can rise to almost 50% of highly discounted fares. The Administration's newly proposed security fee increase just adds insult to financial injury".

"The proposed fixed fees also hit low fare travelers hardest since it represents a higher percentage of lower fares," Stempler stated. "In that regard it is a very regressive fee from an Administration that prides itself on tax cuts and being very progressive on taxes".

Stempler concluded, "I am often asked whether airline passengers would be willing to pay an extra few dollars to ensure a safe flight? And my answer is 'probably yes' if the question were asked that way. But the question is never asked that way. Passengers are only asked whether they are willing to pay 'X' dollars for a particular trip. Either passengers will pay that price or not, and the security fee component of the price doesn't become part of the discussion. As the total price goes up, a certain number of passengers will not take the trip, which hurts passengers, airlines, airports, hotels, the economy, and everyone in our country that benefits from passengers traveling."

The Air Travelers Association is a member-supported organization, which advocates for its members on air traveler security, safety, savings, and service. It provides a number of member benefits including emergency traveler assistance, medical assistance, travel information, and travel services. David Stempler, President of the Air Travelers Association, is an internationally known authority on passenger and air travel issues.