Congressional hearings tackle flight delays

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The House and Senate hold hearings Thursday on the taxing issue of airport delays.

The House Aviation Subcommittee of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee considers HR-1407, which would allow airlines to discuss flight scheduling without violating anti-trust laws.

The legislation aims to coordinate airline schedules in an effort to reduce flight delays and allow the system to run more smoothly.

RESOURCE FAA offers free wireless access to airport delay data     MESSAGE BOARD Have you had any travel troubles lately?

The Senate Commerce Committee also had a hearing scheduled on government and industry-wide efforts to address delays. Jane Garvey with the Federal Aviation Administration was on the list of people scheduled to appear before the committee.

A bill sponsored by Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, would require airlines to inform customers promptly in the event of a delay and would require the airlines to make greater accommodations for them during any delay. It would also require airlines to tell customers during booking whether the flight is chronically late.

The legislation has the backing of the airline industry. Other proposals are expected to be presented.

Flight delays are a common problem. According to the inspector general of the Department of Transportation, in 2000, one out of four flights was delayed, canceled or diverted, affecting 163 million passengers. In all, 1,234 flights a day were delayed or canceled. Nearly 73 percent of the flights were on time, which means more than a quarter of the flights were not.

Fingers of blame point in every direction. The airlines blame the air traffic control system and the weather, while government officials blame the airlines and their hub-and-spoke system that filters tens of thousands of airline passengers into large airports in Atlanta, Dallas, Chicago, New York City and Denver.

The hearings come during extreme frustration inside and outside the industry. The airlines fear the frustration could lead to re-regulation of the airline industry.

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