I think it’s been at least 2 months since I’ve spoken about things like tarmac delays, flight cancellations and the infamous 3-Hour Rule.  Now that we’re solidly in hurricane season and our first hurricane, Irene, has passed through, I’d like to take note of what has been going on for about 1 full year now when it comes to delays.

First, airlines aren’t being financially crippled by this rule.  In fact, the impact of this rule so far does not appear to hardly make the radar screen when set next to the impacts of fuel and labor costs.  And it never should have raised that kind of notice.  I do think it has had some impact in some form because flights having gotten cancelled to avoid violating the 3 hour rule. 

Second, I think the forward thinking and proactive planning that has taken place in advance of storms and natural disasters has shown some positive results.  Airlines are recovering their schedules, by all appearances, far more smoothly and with far less impact to both themselves as well as passengers. 

I don’t think this rule has placed an undue financial burden upon airlines.  I think it has placed some burden upon them but that’s a burden that, frankly, in most instances they should have been bearing already.  Good planning and proactive decisions lead to a better organization, not a worse one.

Has someone been severely impacted by this rule?  I have no doubt that that is true.  There are several anecdotal tales of someone missing an important meeting or being unable to reach a city to manage a crisis as a result of their flight cancelled.  But the question is this:  Are we to bend the entire airline system to what are essentially a handfull of people who want to depart no matter what the cost and no matter what their status?

This is working better than anyone really wanted it to.  Even for the airlines and there is a reason why many airlines and airline CEOs have gone radio silent on the subject.

Filed under: Airline News, Airline Service by ajax