Air Travel
Airlines Attempt a Difficult Comeback After Attacks

More radio coverage on the airline industry.

An American Airlines jetliner approaches Boston's Logan International Airport Oct. 11, 2001. Photo: © Reuters 2001

Oct. 12, 2001 -- A month after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks that scared away much of their business, the nation's airlines reported a steady return in passenger traffic.

The Air Transport Association said Thursday that 7 million passengers flew aboard U.S. airliners last week, according to the Associated Press. That's down from the 9 million who flew the week before the attacks but the most since hijacked airliners slammed into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. "It's a gradual return to business as usual," said Michael Wascom, a spokesman for the airline industry group.

Hours after the terrorists struck, the nation's airways were shut down as a precaution against further attacks. While the airlines resumed flying within a few days, public fears initially kept most flights no more than half full.

The airlines as well as the nation's leading aircraft manufacturer, Boeing, had already been under financial pressure before the attacks, due to the weak economy. But steep losses after the attacks prompted more than 100,000 layoffs by the airlines and Boeing -- and led the government to come up with a $15 billion emergency rescue package for the airline industry. Hotels, restaurants and other travel related industries also suffered.

At the same time, security intensified at U.S. airports -- most dramatically with the deployment of National Guard troops -- and armed air marshals were placed aboard commercial flights. Those steps, along with steep discounts by major airlines, gradually lured travelers back to the skies.

Congress is debating whether to have airport security screening be done by federal employees. Currently, those screeners work for the airlines or subcontractors.

Aviation Layoffs • Boeing Co.: up to 30,000 by end of 2002 • AMR (American Airlines, American Eagle, TWA): 20,000 • United Airlines: 20,000 • Delta: 13,000 • Continental: 12,000 • US Airways: 11,000 • Northwest: 10,000 • America West: 2,000 • American Trans Air: 1,500 • Midway: 1,700 (shuts down) • Spirit Airlines: 800 • Midwest Express: 450 • Frontier Airlines: 440 • Hawaiian Airlines: 430 • National Airlines: 300 • British Airways: 5,200 • Air Canada: 5,000 • Swissair: 3,000 • Virgin Atlantic: 1,200 Sources: Associated Press, NPR research

Other Resources

• Read about the debate over whether airport passenger screeners should be federal employees, Oct. 5, 2001.

• Read about the reopening of Reagan Washington National Airport, Oct. 2, 2001.

• Read how federal officials made plans to allow flights to resume, Sept. 12, 2001.

• Details of President Bush's Sept. 27, 2001, announcement on steps to improve airport and airline security.

• Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta's Sept. 20 statement to the Senate transportation appropriations subcommittee on aviation security and federal aid to the airlines

• Air Line Pilots Association President Duane Woerth's Sept. 20 statement on aviation security to the Senate Commerce Committee

• Air Transport Association's Sept. 19 statement on the financial condition of the airline industry to the House Transportation Committee

• Boeing Co.'s Sept. 18 press release announcing plans to lay off up to 30,000 workers by the end of 2002

• Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta's statements on aviation security, the resumption of commercial and general aviation

• Reports on airport and aviation security from the General Accounting Office and the DOT Inspector General

• Department of Transportation

• Federal Aviation Administration and its answers to frequently asked questions about air travel

• FAA Fact Sheet on the Federal Air Marshal Program

• FAA Civil Aviation Security Web site

• Air Transport Association

• AirportHub airport portal Web site