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Airlines Want Security Cost Reimbursement
Aired September 24, 2002 - 14:20 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(AUDIO/VIDEO GAP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: ...want to be very explicit as we move forward.
Instead, we are asking Congress for financial relief from the high security costs stemming from the war on terrorism, which airlines are now bearing, costs which fall to no other U.S. industry.
PATTI DAVIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Airlines say they are being stuck with some of the costs of putting in reinforced cockpit doors, beefed-up passenger screening, and they're having to give up valuable first class seats to federal air marshals. Now, they also say they're having hard time passing along that $2.50 security tax to passengers, and that's pushing them deeper into the red.
Critics say that the airlines' troubles are their own doing, that they need to make structural changes, and instead those critics say the airlines are nickel and dimeing passengers to cut costs, including, as you've seen, restrictions on nonrefundable airfares. They're cutting out food, and they say all those things together, as they're nickel and dimeing passengers are just driving people away, Kyra.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Well Patti, what about the government taking up some of these security and insurance costs instead of giving a lot more cash to the airlines? I mean, is that an option?
DAVIS: Well that is something that members of Congress say that they're looking at. Some say that they're open to it. Others say that the airlines need to get their own financial house in order.
Now, the business travel coalition is saying, Don't give airlines any more help. They really need to make changes on their own. We can't just go ahead and bail out this industry time and time again. This still has to go to the Senate. There's a hearing next week where airlines will be talking again.
So, we'll just to see where the sentiment heads on Capitol Hill on this one, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: So no solid word? You don't think they're going to get money one way or another, you can't really say?
DAVIS: It's up in the air right now. Congress does appear open to it. We'll just have to see how this work through.
PHILLIPS: All right. Patti Davis from Washington.
Thanks, Patti.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired September 24, 2002 - 14:20 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(AUDIO/VIDEO GAP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: ...want to be very explicit as we move forward.
Instead, we are asking Congress for financial relief from the high security costs stemming from the war on terrorism, which airlines are now bearing, costs which fall to no other U.S. industry.
PATTI DAVIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Airlines say they are being stuck with some of the costs of putting in reinforced cockpit doors, beefed-up passenger screening, and they're having to give up valuable first class seats to federal air marshals. Now, they also say they're having hard time passing along that $2.50 security tax to passengers, and that's pushing them deeper into the red.
Critics say that the airlines' troubles are their own doing, that they need to make structural changes, and instead those critics say the airlines are nickel and dimeing passengers to cut costs, including, as you've seen, restrictions on nonrefundable airfares. They're cutting out food, and they say all those things together, as they're nickel and dimeing passengers are just driving people away, Kyra.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Well Patti, what about the government taking up some of these security and insurance costs instead of giving a lot more cash to the airlines? I mean, is that an option?
DAVIS: Well that is something that members of Congress say that they're looking at. Some say that they're open to it. Others say that the airlines need to get their own financial house in order.
Now, the business travel coalition is saying, Don't give airlines any more help. They really need to make changes on their own. We can't just go ahead and bail out this industry time and time again. This still has to go to the Senate. There's a hearing next week where airlines will be talking again.
So, we'll just to see where the sentiment heads on Capitol Hill on this one, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: So no solid word? You don't think they're going to get money one way or another, you can't really say?
DAVIS: It's up in the air right now. Congress does appear open to it. We'll just have to see how this work through.
PHILLIPS: All right. Patti Davis from Washington.
Thanks, Patti.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
