Quality of airline service deteriorating, study says
Published 9:00 pm Sunday, April 3, 2005
WASHINGTON – AirTran, Atlantic Southeast, JetBlue and United improved their service last year, but were the only airlines to do so among the 14 major carriers rated in 2003 and 2004, according to private researchers who relied on government measures.
An annual Airline Quality Rating study being released today by two college-based researchers found that the overall quality of air travel is deteriorating because more people are flying at a time when airlines have slashed their work forces.
On-time performance worsened last year, with 78.3 percent of flights arriving on time, compared with 82 percent in 2003. Skywest was on time the most, while American Eagle was on time the least.
Complaints about airline service rose 27 percent last year, a much higher increase than the 3.3 percent growth in passengers. US Airways generated the most complaints, Southwest the fewest.
Overall rankings by airlines were not being released until the study’s complete findings were made public at a news conference today in Washington.
Virginia: Falwell condition listed fair
Doctors have concluded the Rev. Jerry Falwell does not suffer from congestive heart failure or coronary artery disease, Falwell’s son said Sunday in Lynchburg. Jonathan Falwell said doctors made the determination Friday after conducting tests on his father. The elder Falwell was listed in fair condition Friday. The 71-year-old founder of the Moral Majority and Liberty University had stopped breathing when he entered Lynchburg General Hospital March 28 and had to be resuscitated.
Arizona: Migrant project arrests
Volunteers for an effort to patrol the Mexican border reported their first sighting of suspected illegal immigrants, resulting in 18 arrests, authorities said Sunday. Participants in the Minuteman Project spotted the migrants Saturday near Naco as the volunteers were surveying the border to familiarize themselves with area. When agents arrived, they apprehended 18 people, Border Patrol spokesman Andy Adame said. Minuteman volunteers planned to start regular patrols today.
Police told to develop stun gun rules
A police chief association is recommending that law enforcement departments using electronic stun guns, or those considering buying them, develop specific protocol for their use and track each time the weapon is deployed. In the report, released late Sunday, the International Association of Chiefs of Police urged police agencies to place stun guns on a use-of-force chart – helping officers to decide better which tool to grab in a given situation. Scottsdale-based Taser International Inc. is the only company that has a patent to distribute stun guns, which the company calls Tasers.
