Typical drivel from my local paper.

www.charlotte.com/observer/1119usair.htm

Dec. 31 demand isn't flying US Airways, other carriers cut schedules, cite slow bookings

By TED REED Most everyone says it will be safe to fly on New Year's Eve, but most airlines are canceling flights anyway as hordes of passengers are staying away.

US Airways said Thursday it will cancel about 20 percent of its Charlotte flights Dec. 31 because of slow passenger bookings, reflecting similar trends at most other airlines.

US Airways carries about 90percent of the passengers at Charlotte/Douglas International Airport.

A spokesman said that because of reduced demand, the airline often cancels up to 20 percent of its scheduled flights on holidays. It will cancel slightly more on New Year's Eve. He declined to specify the cancellation rate on New Year's Eve 1998.

US Airways is satisfied with its Y2K preparation, Chairman Stephen Wolf told reporters Tuesday during a visit to Charlotte. He said an alliance with the Sabre computer system gives the airline access to a state-of-the-art, Y2K-compliant system.

"Will there be some small hiccup in some small airport somewhere?" Wolf asked. "There may be. But I'm not really concerned."

The Federal Aviation Administration said Wednesday the 10 largest airlines are ready for Y2K, as are most other carriers. International agencies have said there is uncertainty only at the most remote airports.

Airlines, like other businesses, have spent millions to fix the Y2K computer bug. The fear: Computers that read only the last two digits of a year might confuse the year 2000 for 1900 and go haywire.

Still, many passengers are opting not to fly on New Year's Eve. Airlines say most passengers want to be at their destinations then, not racing to get there, especially with a wide array of millennium celebrations planned.

Among the cancellations are flights from Charlotte to London on both British Airways and US Airways. The flights would have been in the air at midnight Greenwich Mean Time.

British Airways says it will have 20 airplanes in the air around the world at midnight GMT, however. Included are flights to London from Denver, Los Angeles, Miami, New York and Orlando, Fla.

Charlotte-based commuter carrier CCAir says it will cancel 57 of 195 New Year's Eve flights. "We normally have reduced schedules on holidays," said President Tim Coon.

Other airlines are also reporting reduced schedules. American expects to cancel about 20percent of its scheduled flights, up from 10percent in 1998. United has cut 22percent of its scheduled flights on New Year's Eve and 12percent on New Year's Day.

Federal Aviation Administration director Jane Garvey had said she wanted to be in the air at midnight on New Year's Eve, flying from Washington to the West Coast, to show her confidence in the system. But American Airlines has canceled both the flights she booked because of lack of demand. Garvey has made a third reservation.

-- Roland (nottelling@nowhere.com), November 19, 1999

Answers

Normally cancel flights my butt. Our Best friend works for United Airlines. Flying over the New Years Holiday is big bucks for the employees they all bid to fly. Two weeks ago I told Dan Alaska Airlines and others were grounding flights over New Years. He said It would never happen at the Big Airlines. Last night he told us he would be home for New Years (to our great relief), because they were cancelling so many flights. I think I finally saw a glimmer of "I'm Getting It". It is not to late for Dan and his lovely wife Sahra to start making some preps, but I got extra as well.

-- ** (karlacalif@aol.com), November 19, 1999.

Oh, and Garvey, "Let's keep up the appearances shall we?" Have you ever heard the term "CHARTERD" ???????

-- noprobwerey2kok (karlacalif@aol.com), November 19, 1999.