Airlines fined more than in Bush era

[sabra]

Source: Bloomberg

By Bloomberg News | October 8, 2010

WASHINGTON — AirTran Airways paid a fine for promoting $39 fares that cost $44. Delta Air Lines was penalized for not disclosing fees, Continental Airlines for underreporting disabled passengers’ complaints. That was in May alone.

President Obama’s Transportation Department has collected nearly twice as much in aviation industry fines as in the final two years of George W. Bush’s presidency, data show.

The fines are weighing on carriers that recently reported their first collective profit in 2 1/2 years, said Kenneth Quinn, a former Federal Aviation Administration official. “The pendulum has swung pretty hard,’’ he said.

The Transportation Department’s enforcement office has levied $4.77 million in penalties since Obama took office, an 84 percent jump from 2007-2008. And the FAA, which regulates safety, proposed $77.4 million in fines in the 12 months ended Sept. 30, up 66 percent from the year ended Sept. 30, 2008.

Read more: http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2010/10/08/airlines_fined_more_than_in_bush_era/

[SoapBox]

1. Vague statement about AirTran's (which is NOW Southwest!) fares...

ok...so was the fine/complaint about advertising a "base" fare, $39, but with fees and taxes cost $44?

I need to know details.

BECAUSE, Southwest does that ALL the time...I just looked, minutes ago at a fare on SWA.

One way...$155...but by time the fees and taxes were added, about $170.

I understand all of that...but when one or two carriers try to make hay with the lower
number which ends up bigger...then I think that is wrong.

Airline fares have always been quoted at "bottom line"...not, what they start with and then
totaled with all the stuff added on.

...and a fyi in case anyone missed it, Southwest just bought AirTran.

[KurtNYC]

2. more circular governmental BS

the government subsidizes airlines and then fines them. Keeps paper pushers employed I guess.