Sir - The article "Low-cost carriers save passengers $6 billion" (Flight International, 1-7 May, P10) raises hope that European "deregulation" will bring a similar reduction in air fares. Judging by results in the USA, however, the real benefit for airline passengers is difficult to measure.
Less than 3% of US passenger traffic is handled by discount carriers, so most routes are still served exclusively by traditional airlines, which have kept ticket prices relatively high. Although passenger counts may be up in certain markets served by low-cost carriers, most of them are losing money. In the past 20 years, 90% of the carriers fostered by the Airline Deregulation Act have gone out of business. The transient presence of companies which fail to make a profit is detrimental to the reliability of air transport within this system.
The $6 billion in savings to passengers is $6 billion less money available for new aircraft, in-flight service, training and salaries for qualified personnel. Civil air regulations may establish standards of safety, but they do not necessarily guarantee standards of quality. The average age of an aircraft operated by a discount carrier is nearly twice that of the fleet average for major airlines. For low-cost carriers, the aircraft are basically buses with wings - all too often managed with a cavalier attitude.
Unfortunately for the European air traveller, the choice has already been made.
ANDREW HODER
CAPTAIN, BOEING 737
Colorado Springs
Colorado, USA
Source: Flight International
