The American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) testified April 20
before the Aviation Subcommittee of the U.S. House of
Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The
testimony, by ASTA senior vice president for legal and industry
affairs, Paul Ruden, recommended that Congress take immediate
action in several areas. Specifically, ASTA advocated that Congress
limit federal preemption of state consumer protection laws; require
that service policies be integrated into airline contracts of
carriage; replenish Department of Transportation (DOT) enforcement
budgets and convene a meeting to develop a plan for resolving
operational issues such as tarmac detentions.
When the issue of passenger rights was addressed in the U.S.
Senate and House of Representatives in 1999, ASTA was the lead
industry organization backing a legislated bill of rights. However,
the decision was made to allow the marketplace to govern
itself.
ASTA now believes that the DOT should play a pivotal role in
assuring that airline customers “be treated as they deserve to be
treated,” said Ruden. “The most valuable service that DOT can
perform in the short term is to establish and manage a joint
fact-finding process,” Ruden said, adding that “being informed by
the country’s experience with security measures after the 9/11
attacks, ASTA believes everyone interested in these issues must be
sensitive to the problem of unintended consequences that can arise
from regulatory strictures imposed on a very complex and highly
networked system.”
28th Montreal Jazz Festival Nears
Some of the greatest names in music are set to appear at the 2007
Festival International de Jazz de Montreal. This year’s roster
includes Wynton Marsalis, Keith Jarrett, Branford Marsalis and
George Thorogood & the Destroyers. The festival takes place
from June 28-July 8, and tickets are on sale now.
A special “Festival Kit” includes priority access to concert
tickets; a ticket for the Jazz d’ici La Presse series, showcasing
local musicians; a gift certificate for $20 redeemable at the
Casino de Montreal and a A Friends of the Festival card providing
privileged access to the Jam Sessions Movado in the Hyatt Regency
Montreal and a compilation CD. The fee for the Kit is $36 per
person.
Accommodations for the event range from hotels downtown near the
Festival site to several locations in Old Montreal.
888-515-0515
www.montrealjazzfest.com/packages
New Airline Surcharge at LAX
American, Delta, Northwest and US Airways have followed the lead of
United Airlines by adding a $10 surcharge on all flights departing
from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). United initiated the
surcharge on April 11, citing a rent increase implemented at LAX
last year.
“Passing along this surcharge to our customers is not our
preferred action, but the recent sharp increase in costs to operate
at LAX has left United with no other option,” said United senior
vice president of planning Kevin Knight. “We have a great interest
in LAX developing into a world-class airport, supported by a
long-term modernization plan, but we have no interest in paying
higher fees without greater benefit for our customers.”
For its part, Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), the operating
entity for LAX, stated that the United surcharge “wildly exceeds
the airline’s full and fair share of the costs to maintain and
operate its terminal facilities at LAX.” According to LAWA, United
stands to generate more than $48 million per year from the
surcharge, considerably more than the $10 million per year United
will pay in added rent.
“United appears to be exploiting a justified increase in its
maintenance and operations costs in order to dramatically increase
profits on Los Angeles passengers,” LAWA said.
United says it has joined other carriers in bringing legal
action against LAWA for the rent increase, claiming that the
“unjust and unreasonable” increases are a breach of contract.
Additionally, filings with the U.S. Department of Transportation
reveal that AirTran Airways, Frontier Airlines, Southwest Airlines
and US Airways and others have posted complaints over the LAX
airport charges. International carriers such as British Airways,
Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, Qantas and Swiss have also filed
objections with the DOT over the LAWA rent increase.
