David
Joined: 27 May 2006
Posts: 9183
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 Posted: Fri Feb 23, 2007 7:54 pm Post subject: [TS] BUSINESS TRAVEL; MEMO PAD |
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SHIFTING FORTUNES New figures show how sharply the fortunes of the big airlines and their low-cost rivals have diverged since the industry' s peak year of 2000. The discount carriers flew 20 percent more seats in May than four years earlier, according to a report by the Transportation Department' s Office of Inspector General, while the network airlines capacity was down 16 percent. Reflecting the relentless pressure that low-cost carriers have kept on their bigger competitors, average air fares for a 1,000-mile trip dropped to $116 from $147 over that period. Underlining the trend toward driving rather than flying short distances, the report said that there were 27 percent fewer scheduled flights of under 250 miles in May than in May 2000, but there were 9 percent more flights of over 1,000 miles. Southwest had a 59 percent share of the low-cost market in May, followed by America West with 12 percent and Air Tran with 8 percent. Meanwhile, the propeller-driven airplane is rapidly becoming scarce on commercial flights. Flights by turboprop and piston-engine aircraft fell 63 percent in May over May 2000. Flights by regional jet increased 180 percent.
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Source of article: NYT > Bahamas
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