"Letter: Safety, affordability in air travel"

Saturday, May 12, 2007

Letter to the Editor
Safety, affordability in air travel
The Boston (MA) Globe


ROBERT KUTTNER'S May 4 op-ed, "Chaos in the skies," failed to recognize that
travelers continue to benefit from the intense competition unleashed by
airline deregulation. Since 1978, domestic airfares have risen just 45
percent, while the price of milk has risen 133 percent, a single-family home
326 percent, new vehicles 339 percent, prescription drugs 467 percent, and
public college tuition 698 percent.

The price of jet fuel surged 162 percent from 2001 to 2006, placing undue
cost pressures on our nation's carriers.
Post-9/11 security mandates have added costs and changed the customer
airport experience forever. Meanwhile, airlines have invested millions in
information technology to give customers more control of their itineraries,
and they have initiated, accelerated, or expanded orders for
customer-friendly fuel-efficient aircraft.

Airlines today are focused on safe, secure, affordable travel and continue
to look for economically feasible ways to improve service.

JOHN HEIMLICH 
Chief economist 
Air Transport Association of America
Washington 

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