New Travel Restrictions Kick the Airlines While They’re Down
New travel restrictions require extra time
Federal officials have been purposely vague about the new travel restrictions being put in place after an attempted terrorist attack on Christmas Day. That said, it doesn’t hurt to get to the airport early. Thus far, it seems that new travel restrictions only apply to international flights, but perhaps better safe than sorry.
One blogger recommends arriving an hour earlier than usual, so about two hours before the flight leaves. I say use your best judgment, but that’s really not a bad idea. Obviously, some people decide to just skip flying altogether.
New travel restrictions affect airlines
I bet airlines are wishing they could get guaranteed payday loans to help them through the next couple of years. Attempted terrorist attacks have a lesser effect on how often people travel than attacks that get carried out. Still, a lot of people might decide that getting on a plane just isn’t safe anymore.
Plenty of people decided never to fly again after the Sept 11th attacks. Airlines had a hatchet taken to their profits as a result of that day, and the recession kicked them in their nether regions when they were already down. Since there are now stories about an attempted terrorist attack all over the place, and new travel restrictions slowing airports even more, airlines are likely to see profits drop through the floor.
Up and down
This damper on airline business comes at a tough time for a couple of reasons. Airlines usually see more ticket sales around the holidays, naturally, but there’s a drastic drop right after it. January is a slow month to begin with for travel, and this attack and new restrictions, airlines will likely slow to a crawl for this year, and perhaps for longer.
People that would normally jump on low ticket prices in the slow season might opt out, since it’s not worth the risk or hassle. Some people will be understandably skeptical about whether the new travel restrictions will even have any effect at all. Why do I say understandably? Glad you asked.
Federal failure
If procedures already put in place had been followed properly, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab would have never made it onto that plane on Christmas Day to attempt to blow it up. Abdulmutallab’s own father called the American Embassy in Nigeria over a month ago to warn them his son was a threat. Despite all this, his name was not put on the “no fly” list.
President Obama was nothing short of furious that Abdulmutallab was even let on a plane, and though the details about the new restrictions as yet, it seems somewhat unpreventable. Abdulmutallab has warned that there are other bombers on the way, and all we can do is hope that the authorities will take blatant warning signs seriously this time.
