National Airlines will emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The Las Vegas-based carrier has managed to find $112 million in new financing. Kudos to them! However, their CEO made a rather bizarre statement about the role of private dollars: “This financial package displays the support the private sector has shown for our business plan and their recognition of the evolution of the airline industry toward efficient, low-fare carriers. Unfortunately, the Air Transportation Stabilization Board (ATSB) failed to recognize this dynamic change in the industry when they rejected National’s loan guarantee application.” Let’s see — they got the dollars they needed from the private sector — so why should the government have given them guaranteed loans? On the other hand, one statement from the National CEO does ring true: “The ATSB has sent a clear signal that…
About Gary Leff
The Volokh Brothers are
The Volokh Brothers are Kazakh Porn Baron Hit-Magnets.
I’ve already told you about
I’ve already told you about SeatGuru so you can see where you’ll be sitting (and pick the best seat on the plane). Now you can see what you’ll be eating.
A remarkable Sunday in history.
A remarkable Sunday in history. Randy Cohen, the New York Times “ethicist,” didn’t say anything patently stupid.
Homeless transvestite moves
Homeless transvestite moves into luxury house rent free because the owner is allergic to mold.
He must be really sleepy.
He must be really sleepy. Peter Desailey has been named Australian sheep counting champion.
Badass, phat, and ass-backwards
Badass, phat, and ass-backwards have been added to the Oxford English Dictionary.
Six Things to Know Before
Six Things to Know Before Buying That Cheap Air Ticket: missing your flight will cost you, airlines are cutting back flights, taxes make your ticket more expensive, previously discounted travelers may pay more, and your ticket will be electronic. Here’s what I found shocking: According to the Air Transport Association, $51 of the cost of a $200 ticket now goes toward taxes, up from $29 five years ago.
A worker at the Miami
A worker at the Miami airport discharged pepper spray, leading to an airport evacuation. A ground security coordinator “kept silent through the situation” and has been fired. Really confidence-inspiring.
Gephart knows best. Dick Gephart
Gephart knows best. Dick Gephart thinks that airlines “need help” downsizing. This is so ripe for jokes (government downsizing?) but it just isn’t funny. It’s hard to imagine government picking which airlines should fly, how often they should fly, to where, what they should charge.. oh, actually it isn’t hard to imagine at all. That’s how the system worked prior to 1978. Since deregulation, real prices have fallen more than 20% and consumers save nearly $20 billion/year.
