Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, May 5, 1990 TAG: 9005070328
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-9 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The latest air-travel consumer report from the Department of Transportation lists USAir as sixth out of 12 for on-time performance; not "dead last." American was seventh. Trower says these statistics exclude weather and air traffic delays. They do not.
He also says USAir's poor on-time performance is attributable to willful negligence and/or incompetence. The only negligence and incompetence are in Trower's statistics-gathering.
Yes, USAir has had problems with cancelled flights. There are a myriad of reasons: mechanical, weather, Hurricane Hugo, California's earthquake, etc. However, insufficent passenger load has never been one.
Trower criticizes USAir for downsizing the aircraft serving Roanoke, stating they have barebone electronic instrumentation, lessening their ability to land in marginal weather. He says Roanokers should fly American Eagle, Delta Connection, or United Express, which all have the same type of equipment. Incidentally, all commuter aircraft serving Roanoke have more than adequate instrumentation for landing in adverse weather.
Trower does offer some good information on points of contact for dissatisfied consumers.
I can accept his irritation and criticism, but I cannot accept his misstatements. Both the original employees of USAir and the former Piedmont employees such as myself are working very hard to iron out the wrinkles of the merger and provide the best service to the customer. The safety and satisfaction of the traveling public are our primary concern. REGGIE LEMON ROANOKE
by CNB