We Must Avert This Disaster

Filed under: Politik

Unless steps are taken NOW, every major American airline will be out of cash an close to bankruptcy by next year.

Posted: Jun 26, 2008 at 3:24 pm / Email this »

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152 comments to “We Must Avert This Disaster”

More comments: [1] 2 »

JJ says – reply to this

1

This is the most baseless post I've ever read on here.
hi says – reply to this

2

first
kate says – reply to this

3

scary
kkc says – reply to this

4

who cares. Our government is acting foolishly and now we're reaping the benefits. All those southerners elected BUSH and now see what we get!
Kim says – reply to this

5

Yeah I know. I am a travel agent. Things are not good at all. Fares are going thru the roof. Pretty soon we will all be taking Greyhound!
Will says – reply to this

6

BOO!
nk says – reply to this

7

i love u asss
1st
Justm says – reply to this

8

Welcome to the GEORGE W. BUSH administration and all of its failed economic policies. I don't care what you racist son of a guns have to say that visit this site, IT IS TIME FOR CHANGE! We can not continue to let this man and the GOP ruin our generation.
mac says – reply to this

9

that is wicked scary…
e says – reply to this

10

Holy shit
pilot says – reply to this

11

we need to change this…i'm not even kidding.
this morning when my mom picked me up from school she told me we need to talk. my dad's a pilot and were going to have to move apparently because the airlines are cutting pay into half. my dad has been a pilot for over 15 years and they are offering him starting pay now. it needs to be changed! it's wrong.
bobit says – reply to this

12

Who gives a FUCK, let the BASTARDS walk.
hicks says – reply to this

13

seriously… what did you THINK was going to happen? Fuel costs are rising for everyone.
EVA says – reply to this

14

there is no aversion perez. oil is running out, the economy is a mess, what steps are there to take?
TEXAS says – reply to this

15

EXCEPT FOR TEXAS BASED SOUTHWEST AIRLINES!
Herb Kellerher and board were smart enough to lock in gas prices a year ago and they don't pay their employees obscene amounts of money. You may not like the swiftness of the boarding or unboarding…but all the flights I've been on have always been entertaining.
SOUTHWEST AIRLINES ROCKS!!!!!
fdf says – reply to this

16

What are we supposed to do about it? Tell that to Bush…
Katieee says – reply to this

17

perez, okay what can we do?! can you find out ways to petition? something??!!
HOPE says – reply to this

18

My son just got laid off from Sheltair, where he serviced high priced clients, like JLo and Cameron Diaz and Shaq. Fuel is just too damn expensive. My husband and I can afford to travel, but I just don't want to pay 25-100 to check my bags and $2.00 for a freaking soda. THANK YOU GEORGE BUSH. Staying local, fuck the republicans. VOTE, PEOPLE, VOTE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dani says – reply to this

19

Re: Justm – well, of course there's going to be a change. presidents can only serve two terms. rephrase yourself.
sb says – reply to this

20

Honey, this is a symptom of the greater problem. The airline companies "crashing" won't be the only casualties. If the US keeps hugging trees, soon enough, we'll all be living in 'em. Just pray to God that the tree your living in bears fruit so you can eat and feed your family.
Kat says – reply to this

21

Yeah, and so will a whole lot of American families.

Which ranks higher on your list of priorities: corporations or children?
S1x0f says – reply to this

22

IT'S BECAUSE OF GAS/OIL PRICES

They don't bring it down, the airlines are gonna close!!!

I don't give a fuck anyways I am too damn poor to travel travel. But I do drive so BRING DOWN THE GD GAS PRICES!!!!!!!!
KB says – reply to this

23

It is time to start drilling off-shore… Might not help now but it will in 10 years
Stop says – reply to this

24

You dumbfucks, saying this is Bush's fault know shit about the economy. Bush isn't responsible for every fucking incident that occurs in the fucking world. Oil prices aren't going up because of him, it's because of speculators. Same idiots that think Bush is responsible for everything are going to vote for Obama which is very sad and is going to make our economy worst. And I hate Bush.
eurob says – reply to this

25

Another nail in the coffin for your rancid pointless country. In the words of Sharon Stone, kharma's a bitch!
Tom says – reply to this

26

This type of article is a scam to create a frenzy so that the American public will pay even more for airfare while services are cut. Please. Airline CEOs earn millions a year and flight demand is at an all time high. If those companies go out of business because of bad management, others will start up. Simple business.
Jade says – reply to this

27

As usual, you morons bring it back to George Bush. The airlines have been poorly run corporations for many many years. They would just mismanage and lose money and run to the government for help. And the government would always give them more money to pull themselves out of the mess they created. Guess what? the money tree is dead. Now they have to reap what they have sown. Does the current state of the economy make it more difficult? certainly. But if they had started from a more solid foundation they wouldn't be so bad off so quickly.
dummy says – reply to this

28

Re: Justm –
hey, smarty, did you know we're electing a new president in november… this year?!! that means he won't be around anymore or continue to do anything, which = change. just thought I'd clue you in.
fucking stupid.
Diana says – reply to this

29

Good. No surprise here. Have you seen the way EVERYONE at AA treats their passengers. I almost jumped over the counter and beat one to a pulp this passed weeknd after getting treated like shit for 7 hours.
Me says – reply to this

30

Nnnooooooo! I love to fly and this will make costs skyrocket!! Doomsville - fo-show!
s says – reply to this

31

slow news ?
how about reporting on the international kiddie porn/rapist guy that just got busted in a small town in north GA? we need to rustle up an angry mob down here
Holly says – reply to this

32

good!!
smiff says – reply to this

33

and not an
Xulta says – reply to this

34

For all the fucking idiots that voted for BUSH…

I TOLD YOU SO!!!!

ALL OF THIS SHIT IS BUSH'S and the REPUBLICANS FAULT!

BUSH IS A FAILURE AND THE WORST PRESIDENT EVER!!!
aks says – reply to this

35

Re: KB –
last time i checked we were doing that… but once again, why is it better to give other countries our money, than to put the money back in our own pockets by using our own resources?
do any of you have an education?
Princ says – reply to this

36

Oh well time to bring back horse & buggie, and wind powered sail ships.
ek says – reply to this

37

why the f did bush get elected for this second term?? and who are the dumbasses who voted for him! i guess it is time to move to europe
Scott says – reply to this

38

I for one am glad to see the "major" airlines in panic. They have forgotten the cardinal rule of business, always take care of your customers, something the smaller airlines like Jet Blue have not forgotten,

I don't care about paying more, the issue I have is the major airlines (especially United) is that they have terrible customer service. When they realize people will be wiling to pay the price as long as they are treated properly then the airline industry will bounce back. Until then I refuse to fly any of the so-called "major airlines."

Jet Blue all the way!
wah says – reply to this

39

Re: pilot –
maybe your dad should go into the oil business
regan says – reply to this

40

Re: kkc – Re: kkc – What the hell kind of biggotry is that??? First of all, if it were only up to Southerners, no one would get elected…Southerners don't have that much power. And if they did, then you'd have to give them a helluva lot more credit for their power and intelligence than you're giving them with that hateful remark. Our government has been acting foolishly for years…years before Bush, before Clinton and even before that. it's not about Republican or Democrat anymore. It's about power hungry white men. Change needs to happen, my Southern hating Friend. Maybe if people would make a change in their own bigoted, hatefilled minds and hearts, that would happen.
Maris says – reply to this

41

Gas is toooo high $$$$$
oil i says – reply to this

42

Re: EVA – no one ever said that the supply of oil is diminishing that rapidly. even the oil companies claim the price is too high its the weak american dollar that is causing the surge in furl prices.
chilimama says – reply to this

43

Re: TEXAS – Southwest is the only airline I have ever used!! Not to mention, Southwest has the best history, no crashes or not many.
Regan says – reply to this

44

Re: Tom – Right on and well said!
Rodne says – reply to this

45

What a bunch of idiots? If you think this is Bush fault you are crazy….go ahead and vote for Obastard and see what you get. You might get a change but it might not be the change you want….dont believe everything you read and hear…..especially on stupid celebrity wesites.
Georg says – reply to this

46

#27 Jade, you are a fucking idiot. George Bush's "policies" have destroyed this country. Defend him all that you want, but the facts are the facts.
gblin says – reply to this

47

maybe if all the asshats would stop driving gas-guzzling SUV'S (just because you can afford doesn't mean you should do it) and took some responsibility for their carbon footprint, we could keep things under control.
tattooed white trash says – reply to this

48

America is the only one at fault. It is all part of the master plan. Anyone with a brain could see that!! Carma is a mother fucker.
sandt says – reply to this

49

And the answer is…….OFF SHORE DRILLING! F@&K the EPA and all you environmental jerk offs. You don't understand how these crazy regulations impact every other part of our lives. The technology has come a long way to mitigate environmental impacts. Drill off the coast of California and Alaska to reduce the dependence on foreign oil!
Regan says – reply to this

50

Re: ek – Au Revoir! Ya think gas prices are high here??
ddd says – reply to this

51

you'll hardly find airlines or other public transportation companys who make a enough money…the state has to take care of these things…the state have to give them money because public transportation is not about who makes the most money…it's a public intrest…
leesa says – reply to this

52

Southwest Airlines is in no trouble what so ever. The government has never once had to bail out SWA. Give me a break. This is a capitalist society, and thank God for that! If an airline tanks, they need to rethink their business model. It's just that simple.
Regan says – reply to this

53

Re: Georg – Nice…enlightened Dems calling people names because of their opinions…how nice. Hater. I don't care who you are, Dem or Repub, why do you have to hate like that?
TEXAS says – reply to this

54

EVA #14
Oil is not running out … there is a greater consumption of oil … but there haven't been any refineries erected for 20+ years so they can't refine the crude to fuel. My family is in oil, we know the truth, stop listening to those Gore-a-phobes!
lgibs says – reply to this

55

People are taking this way too seriously, by calling each other fucking idiots doesn't solve anything. Then we all wonder why we can't get along or even discuss things in a civil manner. The logic that this is all Bush's fault is ludicrous as well, he doesn't have any control over what people pay for anything. Blame it on the SPECULATORS!!! The government shouldn't be getting involved in business and bailing them out to start with.
Regan says – reply to this

56

I stopped flying AA because of their horrible service not because of prices. Perhaps if these highly compensated people who run AA and the larger airlines would remember who pays their fat salaries and treat them with some respect, then they wouldn't be in danger of bankruptcy…which by the way…they don't really care about. Just gives them a blank slate to start over and make more for the guys who are REALLy making the money…not the pilots, baggae handlers, CSRs and flight attendants.
hacki says – reply to this

57

We? who's WE?

if "we" could avert the oil disaster.."we" surely would!
TEXAS says – reply to this

58

dummy #28
perfect name for you left wing nut
MOL says – reply to this

59

Re: Regan – good luck with that! Herzlich Willkommen in Europa!
Regan says – reply to this

60

Re: Hal R Hosfeld – REALLY??? Are you for real?? Are there really people like you out there? Seriously. How do you live with yourself with thoughts like that. you should really keep those to yourself.
kerkieberkie says – reply to this

61

If you honestly want to stop this crisis, then post the petition for Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less. There are legislatures who are trying to do something about this. I've emailed you the links so we can all sign the petition, but you haven't posted them. What's up?
Dani says – reply to this

62

Re: Hal R Hosfeld – You are a jackass. Even if you're kidding, you're not funny.
cm says – reply to this

63

yes…it is called ACTUALLY PAYING FOR AN EXPENSIVE SERVICE. In 1968 it cost $750 to fly in COACH from LA to Hawaii. We would be able to provide a nice service if people paid for it. Flying is a privilage, not a right Americans think they are entitled to. Just like they think they should live in a mansion and drive a lexus if they make 35,000 a year.
MW says – reply to this

64

Re: Georg – You my friend are an idiot….Bush can make all the policies he wants, but the Repubs and the Dems have to vote on it…so the Dems are just as guilty as the Repubs.
meg says – reply to this

65

Not to sound mean, but it's about time. I guess poor service and rude employees finally caught up to them. I fly at least once a week, if not more and I must say United has some of the worst service, only to be topped by American Airlines. I will drive a little extra to fly Airtran, or Southwest over one of the "TOP" carriers any day….

Also…Really blaming this on George W. Bush..Come on. If you look back a good 20 years the airlines were regulated by the govt and the prices were higher than they are now. You can't blame the govt for everything…Come on people…..
sourd says – reply to this

66

Love to see the airlines go down, they made so much money and wanted deregulation, although i hate seeing the job loss that comes with it.
cm says – reply to this

67

Re: leesa – You are not correct, their profit margins are shrinking quick. Try flying SWA overseas….they don't do it! The oil companies are no longer going to allow SW to hedge fuel either….as soon as they pay what other airlines pay for gas, they will be fucked.
You h says – reply to this

68

You should stick to what you know.
Devo says – reply to this

69

You reap what you sow. I will never fly them again. They tossed a special needs toddler and his mom off a flight last week and they can rot in bankruptcy hell forever.
Ruby says – reply to this

70

Re: Hal R Hosfeld – : EAT SHIT AND DIE!
gimme says – reply to this

71

Why doesn't anyone ask unions what they can do to avert the issues?
me says – reply to this

72

#24 you are a fucken retard…..YES it is that assholes fault this country is in the shit hole….IDIOT
MW says – reply to this

73

All you people keep saying prices are high, but in reality they aren't compared to other countries who are paying $8 for a liter of gas. That is $24 a gallon. Consider yourself lucky.
MW says – reply to this

74

Re: MW – I'm sorry it isn't $24, but $32
Gina says – reply to this

75

so? who gives a fuck, maybe if people stop flying then the world wouldn't be so damn polluted.
Nikky says – reply to this

76

OK Im sorry but WHAT THE FUCK does that have to do with "Celebrity Juice"?
They all fly private jets anyways!!! Except for Naomi Campbell of course ; )
Perez find some better material!!!!!!!!
CANADA DOESN'T CARE!!!!!!!!!
Baz says – reply to this

77

Americans should stop whining. Fuel costs $12 a gallon in the UK & much iof Europe is the same
ha.. says – reply to this

78

something that i dont understand is the gov. is who makes money. why cant the gov just take care of the oil difference? why cant our country make money to cover our dept?
LP says – reply to this

79

Fine.
Frank says – reply to this

80

Fuck the U.S. airlines industry. The government keeps bailing them out and they STILL go bankrupt. At this point, I don't think I'd mind it if foreign airlines came in to the U.S. to provide service, like S. Korea, India or Australia. Service would probably be much better and we'd have hot, young stewardesses once again.

So fuck the airlines industry in America. Oh, yeah, and fuck GM, too. Our government needs to STOP throwing our money away on these companies, who only use it to enrich their CEOS!
Jessi says – reply to this

81

How depressing
bobit says – reply to this

82

Re: tattooed white trash –

apparently spelling is a motherfucker too, Karma is spelled with a K not a C.
Mat says – reply to this

83

…and what kind of action must we take?

Fly more? Pay more for seats? Wait longer in lineups?

Make air travel affordable, enjoyable, and safe and more people will fly. Period.
Marky says – reply to this

84

This is indirectly caused by the Iraq war and directly by the Bush administration's economic policies. Once the airlines are bailed out by the Federal government, the massive transfer of wealth from it's ordinary citizens to the wealthy will be complete.
Keli says – reply to this

85

We can thank the Bush administration for this mess. Fuckers….
LkAtU says – reply to this

86

It might be worth it if they go out of business then we won't have to endure Perez's fat ass running around the country to all the hot topic trying to get little girls to buy those cheap inferior craptastic t-shirts, hoodies and flip flops.
Mary says – reply to this

87

You idiots! You can thank fucking President Jimmy Carter for deregulation of the airlines. That is why so many have fallen. Yes, deregulation made flying cheaper but also weakened the financial viability of the airlines and also let the "riff raff" on the planes. Our economy has absolutely nothing do with President Bush. If one wants to point fingers, perhaps point to the Clinton Administration whereby the Glass-Stiegel Act went the wayside (separation of banks and investment banks). An Act that came about after the stock market crash in 1929. Also, look to 1993 when the Federal Reserve in Boston supposedly found "discrimination" when it came to denying loans. There wasn't discrimination . . . these people really didn't qualify for the loans, hence the mess we are in now. People, please read and get an education.
Frank says – reply to this

88

Mary, I don't think Reagan's firing of the air traffic controllers helped matters much. Or the Republican Congresses preventing smaller carriers from competing for inter-continental and trans-continental flights. Look, both parties fucked up, due to being manipulated by the major U.S. airline companies. I think we can agree that tax payer money should no longer be used to bail out the companies — if any money should be invested, it should be into airport security and regulation (the FAA), and air traffic controller equipment and training. Secondly, throw open the doors to allow many other companies, including approved foreign ones, to compete in the U.S..
Susan says – reply to this

89

So. Maybe if the airlines cut back and therefore the demand for fuel goes down, gas will cost us less. Then I can drive to California. Who can afford to fly now anyway? Plus, if you aren't traveling at least halfway across the country, isn't it quicker to drive since you have to spend so much time in the airport? Families live too far apart as it is. As far as business goes, hasn't the Internet solved that problem for 80 percent of you? Besides, if we can harness the wind for energy, can we not harness the wind to fly a plane? Get busy boys and girls. Human innovation is grinding to a halt because of our dependence on petroleum. That's the stone age, babies! Oh, and while you're at it, can you all not come together to grow your own food in local communities? You lazy fucks!!!! And promise me, this time, when you find an answer that works for everyone and is in harmony with the Earth, you won't fuck it up by trying to "improve" it. Oh, and here's a clue, petroleum based plastic cannot be involved in the solution!!! And while you're being all creative and shit, how about stop putting soybeans in all our food. That's just stupid. You have 22 years. I made that up. But, it's just as real as you are.
TD says – reply to this

90

Mary beat me to the punch, even though I despise Bush, the Bush Administration has nothing to do with the state of the airline industry right now. This problem goes back 29 years to when Deregualtion hit, most of the airlines were not properly managed to know how to take advantage of the the new policies and make money.

You have to ask, with airlines like Air Tran and Southwest making money, should we reregulate? The reason AA, United, Delta, etc are up the shitter is because they tried to be everything to everyone. Multiple hubs, flights to small cities that never made money, paying armies of thousands of pilots in access of 150K a year, multiple aircraft types, more jumbo jets than needed. Now we are in this fuel crisis, the pilots unions are hesitant to give up their paychecks, the airlines are afraid to slash routes for fear SOuthwest or another competitor will take it….

What will solve this? One or more of these airlines needs to die, NOT GET BAILED out. This will shrink capacity and raise fairs to cover these costs. I know a lot of you will think that will suck, but we take for granted that they even with poor service, offering a product that can get your from LA to NY in 5 hours, and 100% safely is a pretty expensive one! We need a new airline economy where those who can afford it (High income earners, high level biz execs, etc) are the ones who will do it, and the rest will suffer.
hahah says – reply to this

91

Re: cm –
If you are a woman, you are my type of woman. Your perspective is right on.
rayra says – reply to this

92

how about holding the assholes in charge of the airlines accountable for their disgusting mismanagements instead of having the gov't waste money by stepping in and saving their asses (while of course still letting said CEOs walk away with millions of dollars?)
RAWR says – reply to this

93

The markets are bearish! RAWR
paula says – reply to this

94

I don't care if they are. They have made it so difficult to fly. I have no intention of ever flying.
Fuck says – reply to this

95

Fuck 'em. We need some shake up around here.
Mary says – reply to this

96

Re: Frank – I'll grant you that money should go to security, and I don't mean to totally blame one party. Anyway, I have to catch my train. Take care.
Pilot says – reply to this

97

Re: Hal R Hosfeld –
What the hell is going on with the world? Do you realize how dumb you sound right now? The world shouldn't be discriminated like that. I know that you probably grew up in an area that believes that is OKAY to make fun of mentally disabled, blacks, and mexicans. but it's NOT. Just for the record, I am white and live in a middle class neighborhood. YOU JACKASS, not every "white" believes that everyone thats a different race is lower then us. It's called we live in a country that is equal. How did we even get to racism in this post?
You are unbelievable.
KrissyKat says – reply to this

98

they've been out of cash and on the edge of bankruptcy for like 10 years. the government keeps bailing their asses out. what are they going to do? let all the airlines go under and we will have no more flights to anywhere? not going to happen. they will be bailed out again and again. maybe they should stop overbooking flight, causing delays and having shitty customer service, then more people would fly. I used to take a flight to visit my BFF in VA. I live in NH… next time I'm driving…. I had such a bad experience with the airlines last time I flew. My mom is actually CURRENTLY stuck at the ATL airport headed to FL.. surprise, her flight is overbooked and delayed.
Anne says – reply to this

99

My husband is a pilot and this is serious stuff. Not a day goes by where an airline doesn't do massive layoffs, goes bankrupt, or merges with another just to last a few more months. For all of you who say "who cares" or "who gives a fuck" must be the people who never leave their backyard and that's sad.
Renfamous says – reply to this

100

Perez is just like every other Democrat in this country.
Tells us something's fucked up and that we have to fix it, but gives absolutely no input as to how to go about fixing it.

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