Hesitancy in the Air at the AAAE Convention ...

... held this week in Washington, D.C. is understandable, given the fact that Congress hasn’t yet made up its mind on how it wants to fund the system, and at what levels. And there’s the rates and charges dispute at LAX, awaiting a final DOT ruling, that could impact how airports negotiate with airlines in the future.  It was a perfect environment for DOT Secretary Mary Peters to arrive on the scene and answer some questions. Madame Secretary breezed in, mostly pointed to the department’s funding proposal offered up last February – to a Congressional yawn – and scooted off while providing nary an answer. Secretary Peters did offer one rallying cry: “Don’t give up on the PFC front.†At this point, it appears passenger facility charges will be capped at $6, and not indexed for inflation. (Airport groups continue the fight, as the U.S. House considers its reauthorization bill.)  Another anticipated speaker, and much more entertaining, was Skybus CEO Bill Diffenderfer. The start-up carrier is hubbed out of Columbus, OH, and got more than its share of up-front publicity with its guarantee that each of its flights will offer a number of seats for only $10. The airline opened for business – all online – and sold 90,000 seats the first day, says Diffenderfer. “The key to it was ... the $10 fares,†he says.  He had the audience’s attention; after all, airports nationwide are desperately trying to increase air service to their communities. Want Skybus? Then guarantee 25-minute turns, says Diffenderfer. “We will not fly into an airport that can’t do that 25-minute turn,†he says. Part of the philosophy is to fly into secondary airports near population centers, with notable exceptions OAK and FLL. One has to wonder if congestion-challenged Ft. Lauderdale was put on probation from the start.  Thanks for reading. jfi