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American Morning

Crowded Airports and Flight Delays

Aired May 10, 2001 - 11:03   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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: We start with the summer season. The summer travel season is drawing near. And that means plenty of crowded airports and flight delays. That's an issue that Congress is taking a closer look at today. Our national correspondent Bob Franken is keeping track of what's going on. He joins us from Reagan National Airport -- Bob, good morning once again.

BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning. And many people believe that what Congress is endeavoring is an exercise in futility. But nothing could compare to the exercise in futility many believe is what once experiences when one tries to fly from here to there these days.

In the last year, says the Department of Transportation's inspector general, last year one out of four flights was delayed, canceled or diverted. Now, Congress is holding two hearing today, one of them to try and allow the airlines to coordinate more closely without running afoul of antitrust problems. But the other one which is going on now is a Senate hearing in advance of legislation that is expected to be considered within the next week or two sponsored by Senator John McCain, which would require -- it would require that airlines more readily share information about delays with the passengers who are experiencing them and taking better care of them, and when reservations are made making sure the passengers are aware about flights that are chronically delayed.

The airlines have real problems with all of these. They believe that, in fact, the best way to go through this is by voluntary guidelines. And members of Congress say that voluntary guidelines have not worked since they were promised last year, so it's going to take Congressional action.

It is not at all a sure thing that this legislation will pass the entire Congress. But there's a hearing going on today, which is really a bit of gripe session as the administrator of the Federal Aviation Agency Jane Garvey has explained that the FAA is involved in trying to come up with a coordinated plan to improve the situation.

But various senators have said you do not really have a commitment. You don't really have people who are accountable in the federal government for this.

There's a long-range plan. But people now say they have short- rage problems with summer coming up, which is the worst season of the year. And predictions from just about everybody that the problem is going to get worse before it gets better, Daryn.

KAGAN: Bob Franken, Reagan National Airport, thank you.

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