Many of us most likely have heard or seen the following stories:
American Airlines CEO apologizes to passengers
NEW: American Airlines says 570 flights will be canceled Friday
I am profoundly sorry," chief executive of American Airlines says
American expects all of its MD-80 jets to be flight-worthy by Saturday night
Alaska Airlines, Midwest Airlines cancel flights Thursday for safety checks
http://www.cnn.com/2008/TRAVEL/04/10...ons/index.html
American grounds more flights, may need more time
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - American Airlines has canceled about 570 flights scheduled for Friday, raising to more than 3,000 the number this week it has grounded to reinspect the wiring on its MD-80 fleet for a second time.
The company's chief executive said on Thursday it may need several more days to finish the job, which it had hoped to complete by Saturday.
The disruption has affected more than 300,000 passengers, including Friday's schedule cuts, and wreaked havoc with its operations at big airports like Chicago and Dallas.
http://www.reuters.com/article/topNe...edName=topNews
The following one is the one that could be even more troubling:
Grounded flights may pull down wider economy
Politicians bicker with FAA as lost productivity, undelivered cargo mount
WASHINGTON - It's not just angry passengers who are suffering. The grounding of thousands of flights is disrupting cargo, mail and other crucial business for financially strapped airlines, and that means painful new strains on a U.S. economy teetering on the edge of recession.
Apologetic airlines suggest the cancellations won't extend beyond this weekend. But there are indications the problems may just be beginning as federal regulators step up their scrutiny of carriers' compliance with safety rules.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24055079/