Tired of bankruptcies?

[chriselliott]

Looks as if Delta AND Northwest are about the file for bankruptcy. So, are you tired of it all? Fatigued by Chapter 11 filings? Bored by bankruptcies? Let's hear it. (I'm working on a story, so email me your comments at [email protected], too!)

[jfrenaye]

No more posturing. The LCCs have taken over the domestic skies and it is their turn to rule (flashbacks to the Lion King when the hyenas took over the Pride Land). The legacy carriers will need to adapt to the post 9-11 world just as their passengers have. It is time for one and probably two to simply hang it up and liquidate---

My vote goes for Delta first.

[grgtravel]

bankruptcy is the art of passing money from hand to hand until it finally disappears.

[stephen_s]

I think one of the biggest problems is the upper management salaries. Sure they may have gotten a pay cut, but the problem is it's not enough. They don't seem to realize that those workers in the trenches are suffering with the pay cuts, loss of pension, and whatever else they have to put up with.

I agree with you, John, when you said in another post, that the legacy carriers need to take a hard look at Southwest and jetBlue and see what they're doing right.

Like John also said, put Song and Ted in the back burner or get rid of them all together.

[chriselliott]

Interesting story from Joel Widzer that is somewhat related to this discussion

http://www.tripso.com/archives/2005/...ou_should.html

[jfrenaye]

Maybe someone can offer an op-ed to Joel's comments. I for one disagree.

[BMGRAHAM]

Please add another option to the vote - that it's necessary in order to eliminate those badly run airlines to fade away, leaving the few strong ones intact to learn from the lessons of their former rivals.

[tvl counts]

After nearly 20 years in the travel industry, bankruptcy seems ho-hum on the surface...except it seems to allow the same mis-management and ignorance to continue.........over and over and over. It has always been difficult for me to understand how an airline could have failed to be profitable in the 90s....think back....prices were at a good level and everybody was traveling. Everybody else in the travel industry has had to rethink and remodel their business plan to survive...everybody, it seems, but the legacy carriers. Because I live in a rural area I do see the value that the big guys bring in accessibility, but they gave nothing in return except lousy service, bad attitudes and poor management. I do think labor costs have paid a huge role, but then, haven't we all had to find a way to survive AND pay our employees? Why couldn't they and why couldn't the unions see the handwriting on the wall.

I for one pay no attention to any of this except for the impact on my customers...my job is to choose carefully to ensure as best I can that my clients receive the service they pay for...and this is a full-time job!!!!!!!

[Tommie Imbernino]

When Pres. Carter deregulated the airline industry I knew this would be disastrous. Unfortunately it did. We travel agents watched with disdain as our commissions were eliminated while the excessive CEO's salary was going up.
The airlines told the government this additional money received from commission would make them profitable. If you give the airlines an inch they take a mile.
Bankruptcy, like taking our commission away, is only the finger in the dyke.

[NW CTC]

Having read Joel's column I've got to say that I disagree with about 92% of what he says, and could spend the rest of the day commenting on it but time does not permit that luxury at the moment. I've got travels to plan for clients - well-educated, computer savvy, well-travelled (and sometimes not so well-travelled) people who willingly pay me for my hard-earned expertise. Of course, my work is not made any easier by the arcane and dysfunctional system foisted on all of us by the airlines!