Airline news & new rules for Airline fees

GAO Proposes Rules Governing Airline Ancillary Fees
Airline ancillary fees increased by 43 percent last year, totaling $13.5 billion, a number big enough to get attention from Congress and the government’s watchdog agency, the General Accounting Office.

The GAO is designing rules requiring airlines to tell customers about these fees in a consistent way.

A Congressional subcommittee on aviation just held hearings on the fees; at that hearing, the head of the National Business Travel Association testified that fees equal fares and that the DOT should require airlines to display those fees clearly at every step of the booking and purchasing process. (Source: GAO, NBTA press releases.)

Airlines Revenues and Profits Are Up; So Are Fares
The Air Transport Association of America (ATA) said last week that passenger revenues for a core group of U.S. carriers in June was up 25 percent over last June.

Next, the aviation consulting firm AirlinesFinancials.com reported that the nine biggest airlines’ second quarter profits just missed a decade high. And, those same airlines’ second quarter revenues were the second highest in history. Finally, the Department of Transportation reported that average domestic airfares in the first quarter of 2010 were up 4.7 percent from the first quarter of 2009 and at their second highest level since 2001.

The ATA quickly pointed out that, despite the rise, airfares continue to be a good deal—they may be higher than they were in 2009, but are at about the same level they were in 1999, when the average one-way fare was $153.88. (Source: ATA, AirlineFinancials.com, DOT press releases.)

American, JetBlue Tighten Partnership
Airlines continue to ally with each other in order to gain efficiencies of scale. Some, like Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines two years ago and United Airlines and Continental Airlines this year, are merging.

But American Airlines and JetBlue Airways are taking another tack by tightening their partnership. American and JetBlue now offer interline service linking JetBlue domestic flights into Boston Logan and New York’s JFK to 14 international destinations American serves. It’s offering this service on domestic flights on which the two carriers do not overlap.

You can book American and JetBlue flights on a single itinerary through your travel agency, major online travel agency websites or through American. Ultimately the two carriers will sell these flights on both airlines’ websites.

Later this year, the two carriers will enable members of each airlines’ frequent flyer club--American’s AAdvantage program and JetBlue’s TrueBlue program--to earn points in their respective program when they fly these routes. (Source: American, JetBlue press release.)

FAA Says Mexico Falls Short of ICAO Safety Standards
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said that Mexico does not meet international safety standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

As a result, the United States is downgrading Mexico from a Category 1 to Category 2 rating. With the IASA Category 2 rating, Mexican air carriers cannot establish new service to the United States, although they are allowed to maintain existing service.

The FAA said that Mexico is making “significant improvements” and that it will work closely with Mexico to help it regain its Category 1 ranking. Aeromexico, meanwhile, issued a statement saying that the downgrade does not refer to the safety of individual airlines.

Aeromexico said it continues to comply with the highest international safety standards and is operating normally. (Source: FAA, Aeromexico press releases.)

Business Travel News Updates for July

Helpful Information & Tips
for our Business Travelers.

Airlines

Delta Air Lines has dropped its fees, which went as high as $150, for frequent flyer tickets redeemed 20 days and less before departure...

More News

• Low-Cost Carriers Show Profit, Legacy Carriers Lose Money
• Baggage and Other Fees Adding Up For Carriers
• American Pioneers Another New Fee
• Delta Drops Fee for Last-Minute Frequent Flyer Tickets
• Air Traffic Inches Passed Pre-Recession Levels

Read more

Hotels & Amtrak

Demand for business travel is on the upswing, according to data from American Express Business Travel, which tracks corporate travel spending...

Also:

• Hoteliers Keep Adding Rooms
• Hotel Industry Leading Indicator Is Up for Fourth Month in a Row
• Amtrak to Expand Free wifi
• Rebounding Business Travel

Read more

Airlines News Release for July

Low-Cost Carriers Show Profit, Legacy Carriers Lose Money
Low-cost regional carriers reported a profit in the first quarter while network carriers posted a second consecutive loss, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics.

The six network carriers posted a loss of 0.7% in the first quarter with a combined operating loss of $163 million. That was better than the previous quarter, when they reported a loss margin of 4.0 percent with a loss of $867 million.

The seven low-cost carriers reported a 2.4% profits of $115 mil. (Source: DOT press release).

Baggage and Other Fees Adding Up For Carriers
From January to March, the airlines collected $769 mil in baggage fees and $554 mil from reservation fees, according to the Department of Transportation.

The numbers do not include fees from seating assignments and on-board sales of food, drink, blankets pillows, and entertainment, which are reported in a another category.

First quarter of 2010 airline revenue from all ancillary sources was $1.9 bil, with Delta reported the most at $592 mil.

Passenger fees and ancillary from other sources constituted 6.2% of the total revenue of the 28 carriers reporting ancillary revenue. Spirit Airlines' reported the largest of any carrier, 21.7%. (Source: DOT press release).

American Pioneers Another New Fee
American Airlines is introducing Your Choice services, which includes Boarding and Flexibility Packages, that will start at $9 one way. This places travelers in Group 1 of General Boarding, so they can board right after PriorityAAccess customers.

It provides a $75 Flight Change Discount, which means that if travelers need to change their itinerary, they'll save $75 off the regular service charge when applicable. It allows you to go standby for an earlier flight on your day of departure at no charge.

Prices vary based by market and routing. (Source: American press release).

Delta Drops Fee for Last-Minute Frequent Flyer Tickets
Delta Air Lines has dropped its fees, which went as high as $150, for frequent flyer tickets redeemed 20 days and less before departure. Until the change, it cost $150 to book a frequent flyer ticket within three days of departure, $100 for between four and seven days and $75 to book within eight to 20 days.

Tickets booked 21 days out or more had no redemption fee. Delta also instituted a first checked bag free benefit for customers with a Consumer or Business Gold, Platinum, or Reserve Delta SkyMiles CreditCard from American Express. (Source: Delta press release).

Air Traffic Inches Passed Pre-Recession Levels
Air travel inched passed pre-recessions levels, according to the International Air Transport Association.

International scheduled traffic statistics for May showed an 11.7 percent increase in passenger traffic over May 2009. South America saw the biggest growth, 23.6%; Asia-Pacific saw a 13.2% growth. Europe saw 8.3% growth.

The U.S. saw a 10.9% increase; the region's careful matching of capacity to demand has driven load factors to 82.4%, the highest of all regions. (Source: IATA press release).

Business Travel News For Airlines

DOT Proposes More Protection for Air Travelers
The Department of Transportation has proposed more rules designed to protect air travelers, which it says builds on its consumer protection strategy that started with a three-hour cap on tarmac delays.

The new rules would increase compensation for any travelers bumped from flights, increasing compensation from $400 to $650 if you’re bumped and then rebooked on an alternative flight that gets you to your destination one to two hours late and from $800 to $1,300 if you’re more than two hours late on domestic flights and more than four hours late on international flights.

The new rules also would allow air travelers to make and cancel reservations within 24 hours without penalty. The new rules would require full and prompt disclosure of baggage fees and compensation if bags aren’t delivered on time. (Source: DOT)

Front of the Plane is Filling Up Again
Passengers are moving to the front of the plane, according to the International Air Transport Association. In March, the latest figures currently available, premium travel was up nearly 11 percent. And for the first quarter, it was up 7.4 percent. Part of that , of course, was because business and first class travel plummeted by 25 percent in 2009 and 2008. However, premium travel is now growing slightly faster than economy travel.

The recovery varies greatly by region—it’s strongest in Asia, weaker in Europe and across the North Atlantic. IATA reasons that business confidence is returns faster than consumer confidence, which means business travel will recover faster than leisure travel.

Although just ten percent of travelers fly in the front of the plane, they account for 30 percent of revenues. (Source: IATA).

Summer Weather and the Three-Hour Tarmac Delay Rule Could Mean More Delays and Cancellations
Rick Seaney, CEO of FareCompare.com, the airfare tracking website, says that the combination of volatile and fast-moving summer weather and the new rule limiting tarmac delays to three hours could cause airlines to cancel more flights this summer.

Seaney says that the Federal Aviation Administration says that summer storms come up more quickly and move faster than winter storms, grounding flights and causing a chain reaction of delays to ripple throughout the nation’s air traffic systems. Airlines, which understandably want to avoid the $27,500 fine per passenger for delays of over three hours, are canceling flights pre-emptively to avoid those fines.

That means, watch the weather and keep in close touch with your travel agent to make sure you’re at the head of the line, figuratively speaking, in the event of a delay or cancellation. (Source: FareCompare.com).

Pilot Labor Unrest Mounts as Contracts
Pilots are getting impatient with management after years of making pay concessions to airlines facing or falling into bankruptcy. Pilots for AirTran, Spirit and Jazz, the low-cost Canadian carrier, have voted to authorize strikes.

United Airline pilots have picketed to protest the outsourcing of pilot and other airline employee jobs. And American Airlines pilots criticized the carrier’s management during American’s annual meeting last month.

The Allied Pilots Association, which represents American’s pilots, voiced its support for Spirit pilots. It said that it cannot let what it calls an industry-wide “race-to-the-bottom” mentality to continue. Meanwhile, ALPA’s president, Capt. John Prater, called on Congress to reform bankruptcy codes, which he says now let companies strip workers of bargaining rights, while executives keep getting big bonuses. (Source: APA, APA).

Airlines Industry News & Updates

U.S. Carriers Report Double-Digit Increases in March Passenger Revenues
Airlines, struggling with another crisis, the cloud of ash from Iceland's Eyjafjallajokull volcano, which shut down European skies, did have some good news.

The Air Transport Association reported passenger revenues, based on data from nine major U.S. carriers, were up 15 percent in March, the third consecutive month of revenue growth.

International markets: passenger revenues were up 19.6 percent. The number of passengers was up slightly, 1.4 percent. Separately, the International Air Transport Association showed that international air traffic demand was up in March by 10.9 percent. (Source: ATA, IATA press releases).

Premium Travel Up Again in February
The front of the plane is filling up again, according to the International Air Transport Association's latest figures.

February saw a 5.9 percent increase in premium travel and a 6.9 percent increase in economy travel, IATA said.

The level of economy travel is close to recovering to early 2008 levels, but premium travel is still 16 percent down on previous highs. Still, as world trade increases, so does premium travel. The Far East, South American and Middle East did the best; Europe, the North Atlantic, the Pacific and Africa were weakest.

Europe Institutes Post-Volcano Relief Plan for Airlines
The volcanic ash that shut down the skies over Europe cost airlines, which already expected to lose $2.8 billion this year, another $1.7 billion, according to the International Air Transport Association.

The five-day shutdown, canceled 100,000 flights and left 10 million passengers stranded. However, the European Commission was asking member nations to provide airlines immediate relief with measures such as making market-rate loans and deferring payments for air traffic control services.

Under normal circumstances, that would be considered illegal aid under EU rules. The crisis also appeared to give impetus to move to create a single European Sky. (Source: IATA, news reports).

Gogo Inflight WiFi Introduces Monthly Subscription Good on Multiple Airlines
Aircell, a major provider of inflight WiFi, has introduced the Gogo Monthly Subscription, which you can use on any airline whose fleet uses Gogo's inflight WiFi service.

Previously such monthly subscriptions had only been good on one carrier-fine for a frequently flyer who always flies the same carrier, but not for those who fly different airlines in a single month.

It can be redeemed on any carrier using Gogo, but initially will be available for purchase only on AirTran Airways, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Virgin America; all airlines that have equipped a high percentage of their fleet with Gogo. (Source: Gogo press release).

Germany, Netherlands Integrate Trusted Traveler Programs With U.S.
The United States is integrating its biometric-based trusted traveler programs with those of the Netherlands and German.

These programs expedite pre-approved, low-risk travelers members' trips through Customs upon arriving in the country. Under these partnerships, travelers can apply for both the U.S. Global Entry and the German Automated and Biometric Border Control or the Netherlands Privium programs simultaneously. (Source: Department of Homeland Security).

Lufthansa Business Lounge and Beer Garden

Just in time for spring, Lufthansa guest traveling through Munich are in for a Bavarian first: Beginning this March 23rd, customers and Business Class guest can relax in a Lufthansa lounge with its own beer garden.

In cooperation with Munich's Franziskaner brewery, Lufthansa customers will enjoy draft beer on tap and Bavarian pretzels while relaxing at traditional beer tables overlooking the scenic, Bavarian Alps.

The beer garden is integrated in the refurbished Business Lounge in the Schengen departure area (Gate area G, opposite G28) of terminal 2.

Covering a total floor space of 11,840 sq. feet or 1,100 sq. meters, the lounge is equipped with more than 300 seats and has new opportunities for customers to work, or simply unwind and relax.

Source: Lufthansa News

Airline updates: fees increase

International Premium Travel Sees First Uptick in Nearly Two Years
The International Air Transport Association reported that international premium travel was up 1.7 percent in December 2009 over a year earlier. That’s the first increase since May 2008. Economy travel was up five percent over a year earlier.

The recession hit airlines hard throughout the first half of 2009, but a post-recession upturn began in the second half. May marked the low point for premium travel while February marked the low point for economy travel. (Source: IATA press release).

Global Air Capacity Grows for the Sixth Month in a Row More good news came from OAG, the aviation data tracking company.

It reported that in February, global airline capacity was up five percent, the sixth month in a row that it has increased. The single exception: North America, which reported a one percent decline in February in both flight frequency and capacity.

However, North America saw positive growth of three percent and two percent for frequency and capacity in flights to and from the region. Decreases continue on service between North America and Western Europe, where routes have five percent fewer seats and five percent fewer flights for the month.

Still, the OAG said airlines are adding routes in North America—108, with most being domestic flights. (Source: OAG press release).

U.S. Airline Revenue Up for First Time in More Than a Year
Other positive airline news: The Air Transport Association reported that passenger revenue rose 1.4 percent in January, reversing 14 consecutive months of declines.

Traffic was down very slightly--.4 percent—and the average price to fly one mile was up very slightly--.6 percent. James C. May, president and CEO of the ATA, said that the small revenue increase, coupled with a 17 percent increase in cargo traffic, could be the sign of a recovery. (Source: ATA press release).

Business Travel Continues Slow Recovery
Business travel continues its slow recovery with more than one in seven (15 percent) adults planning at least one business trip during the next six months, up from 13 percent recorded one year earlier.

According to the travel horizons survey co-authored by Ypartnership and the U.S. Travel Association.The U.S. Travel Association projects a slight increase in both business and leisure travel for 2010 over 2009. The "perceived safety of travel," declined from 93.8 in October 2009 to 84.8 in February 2010, presumably due to lingering concerns about the "Christmas Bomber" incident that occurred in Detroit over the recent holidays. (Source: Ypartnership and U.S. Travel Association press release).

Virgin America Ups Baggage Fees, American Charges for Blankets
Airlines continue to add on fees. American Airlines, following the lead of other airlines, will charge $8 for blankets and pillows in coach starting May 1.

Virgin America upped its baggage fee for all checked bags to $25 from $20. First Class passengers continue to check two bags for free; Main Cabin select and Main Cabin passengers with refundable fares can check their first bag for free. (Source: Virgin America press release, American statement).

Road Warriors Biggest Worry is Those at Home
Nearly 74 percent of business travelers say their stay-behind spouse has expressed concern about being left home alone, according to a survey commissioned by Logitech, a Swiss technology company.

Even more, 79 percent frequently worry about their significant other when traveling for business. Fifty-nine percent said they would look for a job with less business travel when the economy improves. And 54 percent would take a $5,000 paycut if it meant never having to travel for work again. (Source: Logitech press release)

Tough TSA Security Checks

TSA Toughens Security for Passengers from Nations Sponsoring Terrorism
In the wake of a failed bombing attempt on a flight into the United States on Christmas, U.S. Transportation Security Administration has mandated anyone flying into the U.S. from anywhere in the world who is coming from or through nations that are state sponsors of terrorism or other countries of interest must undergo a tougher security check, including the use of enhanced screening technologies.

That means increased gate screening, including pat-downs and bag searches. Passengers will be told to stow personal items, turning off electronics and stay seated for certain parts of the flight.

Additionally, the Canadian Air Transportation Security Authority (CATSA) has disallowed carry-on bags for those passengers originating in Canada and traveling to the United States. Air Canada is waiving excess baggage fees, letting customers check up to three additional bags at no extra charge. For details on the Canadian policy, visit http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/mediaroom/backgrounders-menu-5781.htm. (Source: CTSA, TSA directives and press releases).

Business Travel Advocates Propose Aviation Security Systems Improvements
The business travel community has been pinpointing gaps in aviation security and ways to improve it. Kevin Mitchell, chairman of the Business Travel Coalition, pointed out that the accused terrorist´s own father notified U.S. officials of his son’s extreme religious views and that the suspect had been placed in the Terrorist Identities Datamart Environment database but not on the terrorist selectee list or no-fly list.

Mitchell said that Britain had refused the suspect´s visa request, according to the London Daily Mail. Mitchell said the U.S. should focus on questioning passengers and better screening instead of restricting passenger movement in flight. The U.S. Travel Association recommended that the government use screening techniques that strengthen security, balance travelers' privacy needs and improve traveler facilitation.

It highlighted whole body imaging (WBI) and using more security dogs both security measures that it believes should be looked at more carefully. The National Business Travel Association urged aviation and homeland security officials to consider risk-management security programs when reviewing current and future airline passenger protection regulations. (Source: BTC, TA, NBTA press releases).

DOT Limits Tarmac Delays to Three Hour Travelers did get some good news. The Department of Transportation limited the amount of time domestic flights can sit on the tarmac to three hours, unless security concerns or safety deem otherwise.

After two hours, carriers have to give passengers food and drink. The rule goes into effect 120 days after it is published in the Federal Register. Source: (DOT press release.)

Airline Numbers Showing Improvement
The failed terrorist attempt came just as aviation numbers were improving. November´s international traffic was up 2.8% over November 2008, according to the International Air Traffic Association.

Passenger demand was up 6.4% from its lows of 2008 but still below the peaks of early 2008. And OAG, which tracks airline supply worldwide, said that global capacity was up 4% in December 2009 over December 2008, although North American flight frequencies declined 2%. And, the Airline Reporting Corp., which processes airline ticket purchases, reported that for the first time since September 2008, total sales in November were up--by 6.72% over November 2008. (Source: IATA, OAG, and ARC press releases.)

New US-Japan Open Skies Agreement Liberalizes Air Service on Pacific
A new Open Skies agreement between the U.S. and Japan means that airlines from both countries can select routes and destinations based on consumer demand for both passenger and cargo services, without limitations on the number of U.S. or Japanese carriers that can fly between the two countries or the number of flights they can operate. 

It will remove restrictions on capacity and pricing, and provide unlimited opportunities for cooperative marketing arrangements, including code sharing, between U.S. and Japanese carriers.  The agreement also would provide opportunities for growth of U.S. carrier operations at Tokyo´s Narita Airport. (Source: DOT press release).

Airlines News Travel Up For November

Global Air Capacity Up Slightly Last Month
Global air capacity was up three percent for November 2009 over November 2008, according to OAG, the aviation data company. Global frequencies are up 1% compared to November 2008, with a total of 2.3 million flights for November 2009, despite an average North American frequency decline of 2%.

Worldwide, frequencies and capacity in the low-cost sector are both up by 8%, compared to a year ago.

Transatlantic capacity between North America and Western Europe decreased 8% year on year; frequencies were down 10%, (Source: OAG press release).

Aviation Group Reports Uptick in Demand, But Airlines Still Have Lost Two Years of Growth
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reported international scheduled traffic results for October 2009 showed passenger demand was up 0.5% compared to October 2008. That was much better than the 5.4% drop IATA reported in September and marks a return to a trend of gradual improvement that began in March.

Still, the crisis has cost the industry two years of growth, according to IATA, which credited much of the improvement to careful capacity management. (Source: IATA press release).

JetBlue Relaunches TrueBlue Loyalty Program
JetBlue Airways has relaunched TrueBlue, its’ customer loyalty program. The program now has no blackout dates; every seat on every JetBlue flight is now available for redemption. Membership account numbers remain unchanged, and previously issued TrueBlue points and Awards remain intact and available for redemption based on their original terms.

TrueBlue Points are earned based on dollars spent with JetBlue or charged on a member's JetBlue Card from American Express. For every eligible dollar spent with JetBlue, members will earn 3 TrueBlue points. Customers who carry the JetBlue Card from American Express will earn 1 TrueBlue point for every $1 of eligible spending, with double points awarded for purchases made at www.jetblue.com.

JetBlue is also offering bonuses for frequent travelers. (Source: JetBlue press release).

Continental, United Upgrade Services for Their Most Loyal Customers
United Airlines and Continental Airlines have announced that members of each carrier’s frequent flyer program who have earned elite status will receive unlimited, complimentary domestic upgrades on flights operated by both airlines when space is available.

Members of each airline’s loyalty club will have access to premium seating—United’s Economy Plus and Continental’s Premium Seating. These new benefits will begin to roll out in mid-2010. (Source: Continental and United press release).

International Registered Traveler Program Expands
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is expanding and making permanent its Global Entry international registered traveler program.

Global Entry—currently available as a pilot program at 20 U.S. international airports—allows pre-approved members a streamlined, automated alternative to regular passport processing lines.

The proposed rule would make Global Entry permanent and expand it to more international airports. The program currently reduces average wait times by more than 70 percent, with more than 75 percent of travelers using Global Entry processed in under five minutes. (Source: DHS press release).

Flyers Interest in Flying Green
American consumers seem eco-friendly with 28% saying that they would be more likely to fly a certain airline if it introduced more "green" practices.

When asked which domestic airlines operate in the most "green" manner, JetBlue, Southwest, Virgin America, Continental and Delta, in order, landed the top five positions. Also important to airline consumers: direct routes and reasonable prices. (Source: Zagat press release).

Business Travel Airlines News

Holiday Travel Gets Even Pricier
Flying on peak travel dates has always cost more, but this year it’s more expensive than ever, thanks to $10 surcharges several carriers are levying each way on certain dates.

Peak travel surcharge dates, according the fare monitoring site FareCompare.com, are Nov. 29 and 30, Dec. 19, 26 and 27, Jan 2 and 3, March 14, 20, 21 and 28, April 11 and May 28. American Airlines introduced the surcharge, US Airways followed and several others matched. (Source: FareCompare.com.)

Budding Corporate Travel Demand Sparks Airline Optimism
Corporate travel demand is improving, according to executives of the major legacy airlines.

They say corporate clients are taking to the skies in greater numbers, companies are easing restrictions and travelers in some cases are booking closer in to travel dates and increasingly selecting full fares.

"A lot of our corporate accounts are starting to hit the road again," said Delta Air Lines President Ed Bastian, adding that corporate fliers are "starting to move up the price point." Analysts sounded a similar theme throughout the industry's earnings calls. "There is evidence of improving travel demand, including from corporations," said Kevin Crissey of UBS. "All of the companies that have reported have cited this to one extent or another." Source: BTN Online

New Air-Traffic-Control Systems Offer Improved Communications Air-traffic controllers in the U.S., Europe, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand now have modern satellite-based systems that operate over oceans.

With frequent automatic position reporting from airplanes and email-like communications between pilots and controllers, these new systems are designed to fill the kind of communication void that occurred after Air France Flight 447 crashed in the Atlantic Ocean last June.

The new systems offer many other benefits as well. The FAA’s NextGen program is aiming at extending these satellite benefits over land as well as over oceans, replacing the current ground-based communication system. (Source: The Wall Street Journal)

United Offers One-Year, $249 Baggage Fee
United Airlines has put a new twist on baggage fees with Premier Baggage, charging customers a flat price that allows them to check two standard bags at no additional cost every time they fly on a United or United Express operated flight in a year. Customers can purchase a subscription for an introductory price of $249, entitling them to check two standard bags on United and United Express operated flights domestically and internationally, where applicable, rather than paying to check bags each trip.

The annual subscription also covers the standard checked baggage charge for up to eight companions traveling under the same confirmation number as the subscriber.

Mileage Plus Premier members are exempt from first and second bag fees on standard bags. (Source: United press release).

Track Flights on Your iPhone
FlightAware, which has more than two million monthly users using it for flight tracking, has released an application for the Apple iPhone and iPod Touch.

Users can download the free app from the Apple App Store, allowing them to track the real-time status and position of airline and private flights in the United States on their iPhones. (Source: FlightAware press release).

High-Speed Rail Could Ease Air Gridlock
A Brookings Institution study finds that air corridors of 500 miles or less between metropolitan hubs —distances at which trains can compete with planes—are the source of an increasing number of air delays. One reason for the congestion — no alternative transportation.

The delays can be so onerous that they discourage some would be travelers, who opt to stay home. The government is investing billions to improve rail options in some of these markets, but it will be years before they’re ready for consumers to ride. (Sources: Brookings Institution press release).

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