Airline experts discuss trends at BIA event - Jackie... -
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Published on: 6/30/2006
Last Visited: 6/30/2006
Hupp and Bob Ziegelaar, former BIA director and president of the Telford Group of Bangor, discussed airline industry trends Wednesday in a presentation to the Action Committee of 50 at Husson College.
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Airline fares are going nowhere but up, after having been driven artificially low in recent decades by deregulation of the industry and intense competition among carriers, Ziegelaar said.The federal government is picking up the tab for retirement benefits promised by now-bankrupt airlines, a cost being passed on to passengers, he said.
"When we think we're flying to Florida for 99 bucks, you're really paying more," Ziegelaar said.
Also in the airline industry's future are more aircraft filled to capacity, more seats per plane and competition from business jets, he said.
In Bangor, the local economy is key to continued growth at BIA, Ziegelaar said.
"The future of Bangor's airport depends on what happens in this economy," he said.