Editorial: Flight delays lead to mounting anger

Saturday, Aug. 26, 2000 | 3:08 a.m.

The only thing that hasn't been blamed for the insufferable delays in air travel this summer is the alignment of the stars -- yet it's not too late for that either. Still, a variety of factors have collided this year to create a nightmare for flyers. Bad weather, an aging air traffic computer control system, lack of airports to handle the passenger surge, and airlines' labor-management squabbles, all have contributed to the delays. Even Las Vegas' McCarran International Airport, which typically is trouble-free, has seen a noticeable increase in flight delays.

Last week Transportation Secretary Rodney Slater held a summit of all the key players in the travel industry to see how these problems might be solved. After the meeting Slater announced a few initiatives, such as improving the air traffic control system to eliminate some "choke points" that are responsible for many delays. But no one should expect immediate relief. The bottom line is that this problem has been brewing for a long time, but there has been no coordination among all involved to remedy the congestion. It could be years before real improvements are seen. Until then, prepare to be frustrated.