Why people aren't flying

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Posted by George Hobica on Saturday, October 24, 2009

It's not just high airfares, because really, they're not that high. And it's not just the recession. Read more at Gadling.com.

Categories: Airline Industry News

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Your reliance on the cliche that people avoid airlines "because they're too much hassle" is very simplistic -- and probably 100% wrong. I would submit that, in the entire history of aviation, the exact same arguments have been made. Well, may they're "too expensive" used to be more popular. Regardless, people can invent 101 reasons why NOT to travel. Haven't you noticed that most people generally prefer to stay home?

The only really modern "hassle" of flying is TSA screening. Does it reduce airline demand? Probably, but probably by a small margin. Flying short distances (say under 350 miles) never really made much sense anyway, and I assume these are the routes most impacted by TSA "hassle."

Right now the number one reason air travel is down is that fewer people can do it for free! That's right, people who's airline tickets are paid for by their businesses. Business travel was crushed in 2009. There's actually been only a tiny drop off in leisure demand -- ask any airline CEO. The problem is leisure tickets don't pay the bills, so you get fewer flights. And fewer flights mean fewer seats -- and then even fewer seats available for leisure travellers! It has almost nothing to do with "hassle."

But it's a nice (albeit a bit tired) cliche.

by Dave D on Saturday, October 24, 2009

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