TSA needs to do a lot of work to ensure cargo safety

John Sammon, assistant administrator for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, spoke today about the TSA’s actions toward fulfilling the air cargo security provisions of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007. The act mandates that 100 percent of all air cargo aboard passenger aircraft be screened by the year 2010.

The major challenges faced by the TSA is that there is not enough capacity at all the airports to do all the screening that needs to be done, Sammon said. The lack of capacity makes it impractical to attempt to break down, screen and reassemble large consolidated loads on airport property with any timelines or efficiency and it also poses a security threat, he said.

Cathleen Berrick, director of the Homeland Security and Justice Issues at the U.S. Government Accountability Office, said that TSA faces five major challenges: TSA has noted some technologies that will be allowed but has not finished that assessment, TSA has not finished it’s air cargo vulnerability assessments, TSA may face resource challenges, TSA is working with outbound and domestic air cargo but more work is needed on inbound international flights, and finally TSA needs to set standards that all air cargo companies are willing to work with.

Oil soaring, airlines nosediving

The airline industry’s impact on entrepreneurs and the US economy was discussed by the House Committee on Small Business. Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-N.Y.) said that the United States is in an air travel crisis and that small business owners across the country will feel the impact of struggling airlines.

Paul Ruden, vice president of legal affairs for the American Society of Travel Agents, said demand for airspace and runways exceeds supply in the United States. Ruden stated that excess demand for seats, congestion in airports, the introduction of fees for services once included in the ticket price, and the increased cost of oil leave consumers alienated. Rep. Steve Chabot (R-Ohio) said airline fuel costs have increased from $16 billion in 2000 to an estimated $61 billion in 2008. Chabot suggested increasing domestic oil production, citing a FOX News survey which says 76 percent of Americans support drilling offshore and in Alaska.

Roger Dew, president and CEO of the Travel Industry Association, said Americans’ frustrations with airline travel predates the soaring price of oil and that oil costs will only amplify frustrations with security lines and an unreliable infrastructure. Terry Segerberg, a small business owner in Cincinnati, Ohio, said airline and other transportation costs are forcing her and other business owners to spend thousands monthly on travel, a reality that causes companies to struggle to remain competitive. Kevin Mitchell of the Business Travel Coalition said Congress can help entrepreneurs by cracking down on oil speculation, strengthening the dollar, pressuring OPEC to increase oil supply, and suspending federal taxes and fees on airlines until March 2009.

Antitrust Committee debates Delta and Northwest Airlines merger

The Senate Judiciary Committee Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer rights today held a hearing looking at the proposed merger between Delta and Northwest Airlines. Chaired by Senator Herb Kohl (D-WI), Committee members debated whether the merger would be detrimental to consumers and to the economy by eliminating market competition in the airline industry, and limiting airline choices for prospective flyers.

The panel of witnesses at the hearing included President and CEO of Northwest Airlines Douglas Steenland and CEO of Delta Airlines Richard Anderson. Anderson and Steenland argued that their merger would not eliminate choices for consumers because their companies’ flight paths complement one another. Also, the CEO’s argued that job loss as a result of the merger would be small. They stood firm in their stance that the market, their respective company’s incomes, and the airline industry as a whole, would be better off as a result of the merger.

Their sentiments were met with both skepticism and support. Some senators, such Ranking Member Hatch (R-UT), described the merger as one that would improve the economy and reward flyers with better service. Others described the merger as one that could undermine the entire airline industry, and one that would influence other mergers in the future.

White House Gaggle

Briefer: Dana Perino

President’s Schedule

President Bush had his normal briefings at 8 am this morning. At 9.10 am he attended a meeting with his Cabinet. At 1.15 pm, the President will present the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy to the United States Naval Academy Football team. This evening at 6pm, President Bush will make remarks in honor of Thomas Jefferson’s 265th Birthday.

White House Press Secretary Dana Perino will brief the press at 12.30 pm today.

Airline Disruptions

When asked if the issue with the airline industry last week came up in today’s Cabinet meeting, Dana Perino said that Secretary of Transportation Peters provided an update about the airline security congestion issues. Secretary Peters was very concerned about the disruptions and the inconveniences for that many people. Peters also talked about the ongoing efforts to ensure air passengers safety to improve air travel for all passengers by taking steps to reduce congestion and delays. On the specific issues of the two airlines that had problems in terms of inspections, they have worked to address the flaws in the system. Peters wants to accomplish two main things; first letting Americans know that the Department of Transportation is fully committed to making sure that the airplanes are safe and secondly to do everything they can so to make sure these disruptions are not repeated in the future. Perino was also asked if the federal government bears any responsibility for the delays in terms of either inspections or the way that the industry runs. She responded that American Airlines took responsibility for the inspections, and there is where the responsibility lies.

Columbia Free Trade Agreement

Perino was asked if President Bush and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi are having conversations, and if they are trying to come together on this matter, or if the White House considers the matter to be dead. Perino replied that they have not spoken since last Wednesday, though there have been discussions on staff level. Perino continued to say, “The President believes that she made a choice to kill the Columbian Free Trade Agreement. And if and until she schedules a vote on the [Columbian Free Trade Agreement], she has in fact killed it. “ If she commits to a day on the calendar for a vote, then her assertion that she hasn’t killed the agreement will remain true--but up until then, she has killed it, Perino said.

Papal Visit

Perino was asked about the Pope’s visit to Washington, and how it differs from a diplomatic visit, since there seems to be extraordinary protocol taking place. President and Mrs. Bush will travel out to Andrew Air Force Base to greet Pope Benedict the XVI, and according Perino, this is the first time he has ever done so during his presidency. “The President is very much looking forward to raise the level of this visit to one where he and Mrs. Bush will take time out of his day to drive out to Andrews and welcome him as Shepherd One arrives at Andrews Air Force Base” , she said. The following day there will be an official White House ceremony for the Pope.
There was also a clarification of the Dalai Lama coming as a religious leader and instead of the Oval Office met with the President in the Residence, while the Pope is greeting as a Head of State and therefore will meet President Bush in the Oval.
There was also a White House dinner scheduled for Wednesday for catholic leaders in honor of the Pope, though Benedict the XVI will not be attending since he is meeting with US bishops instead. However, the White House made sure to let us know that they were aware of the Pope already having other dinner events while in Washington.

Airline Quality Rating announced worst score ever

At a news conference at the National Press Club, the Airline Quality Ratings study was discussed by co-researchers Brent Bowen, professor at the University of Nebraska at Omaha Aviation Institute/School of Public Administration, and Dean Headley, associate professor and chair of marketing at Wichita State University. The researchers announced that 2008 shows the worst Airline Quality Ratings score ever.

Bowen said "taken as an entire industry, the airlines declined in all areas of performance." The criteria elements for the study include mishandled baggage, denied boardings, on-time arrivals, and customer complaints. The second worst year for Airline Quality Ratings was 2000.

Air Tran ranked number one out of the sixteen airlines included in the study. Headley said Air Tran moved up to this position partly because of their good baggage mishandling rate, which is much lower than the average rate for all the airlines. Following Air Tran in the top three airlines in the ratings study were Jet Blue and Southwest.

Headley said customer complaints increased sixty percent this year, and that the top three complaints were in the areas of flight scheduling problems, baggage problems not due to mishandling, and customer service. He said airlines are going in the wrong direction, and he hopes the airlines pay attention to the study as a way for the public to voice its opinion.