Shades of the problems we may face next year if the transportation system is interrupted:

http://www.marketwatch.newsalert.com/bin/story?StoryId=CnSo1ubSbzJaXnJq&FQ=clinton&Title=Headlines%20for%3A%20clinton%0A

Angry American passengers stage `near riot,' judge told Associated Press DataStream - February 12, 1999 13:56 By KATIE FAIRBANK AP Business Writer

DALLAS (AP) - American Airlines canceled nearly half of its flights today as the nation's second-largest airline asked a federal judge to hold the pilots union in contempt for ignoring his back-to-work order.

Dee Kelly, a lawyer for the airline, told U.S. District Judge Joe Kendall that passengers upset by the cancellations caused a "near riot" in Miami after the airline shut down a ticket window. He said 450,000 passengers have been affected.

"They had a near riot in Miami and they had to close a ticket counter in New York," Kelly said at a hearing on the airline's request for a contempt finding. He didn't specify when the two incidents happened. Miami airport police did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

Today, the eve of the busy Presidents Day weekend travel period, the company said it was canceling 1,046 flights, nearly half its normal 2,250 daily flights. It was a similar situation Thursday, even though Kendall had issued a back to work order on Wednesday. ... The hearing broke for lunch at midday with no ruling from the judge. Even if pilots did go back to work immediately, travel was expected to be disrupted for days as planes and crews are moved into the proper positions.

Thousands of flights have been canceled since Saturday. Analysts have predicted the airline will lose millions of dollars. American estimated that 2,400 of its 9,400 pilots - one in every four - called in sick. ... President Clinton today urged the two sides to settle their differences, citing "the potential for enormous disruption over the upcoming Presidents Day holiday weekend." ... For now, passengers were still trying to reschedule or get refunds, swamping American's reservation desk with calls and finding themselves disconnected or waiting on hold.

[Note - the above story was in progress - calling up the web site might yield a slightly different version...]

-- Brooks (brooksbie@hotmail.com), February 12, 1999

Answers

Margaret Thatcher said it best: "The veneer of civilization is very thin."

-- Brett (savvydad@aol.com), February 12, 1999.

Only 25% of American's pilots are no-shows and this is what happens? What's it going to look like for all the airlines if just 25% of their staff (could be more, of course) can't or won't report for any number of reasons around year end? The word "havoc" comes to mind...

-- Mac (sneak@lurk.com), February 12, 1999.

Radio News Headline the Other Day re American Airlines slowdown: "Long Lines; Short Tempers"

And this is only because a bunch of "legends in their own minds" couldn't get that "important" meeting.

And there are still people on this forum preaching "uplift the masses" and "can't we all just get along?".

-- A (A@AisA.com), February 12, 1999.

The idea that people will band together and make nice in this crisis (if its bad, and I think it could be, hope not) is foolish. In my town uptight yuppies get into fist fights at town hall arguing about putting their dogs on a leash. Kind of minor compared to loosing a 401K or not getting fresh water in the house for a month.

-- Jim (aster@aol.com), February 12, 1999.