Study examines making skies friendlier

WASHINGTON, Sept. 27 (UPI) -- U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters will study air travelers’ treatment, flight delays and airspace congestion, President George W. Bush said Thursday.

Peters’ report will address whether air travelers are treated fairly, and what role congestion might play in treatment of flyers.

"One of the reasons why consumers on airlines, airline passengers are being so inconvenienced is because the skies are too crowded," Bush said.

Peters will offer recommendations to address the matter, particularly in the short term, the president said.

Peters said the department would propose immediately to increase compensation for passengers involuntarily bumped from an oversold flight, from about $200 to about $624.

She said the department wants to provide travelers better flight information and stepped up oversight of regularly delayed flights, and update the complaint system.

"But consumers need more than that," she said. "What they need, really, are solutions to congestion so that these delays aren't happening in the first place."

Bobby Sturgell, acting administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, said the FAA was addressing congestion at JFK airport in New York by redesigning New York's airspace, "a move that could cut delays by 20 percent.”