[BC] AAR

[Mike McCarthy]

I'm hearing AAR will loose between $40M and 50M in revenue due to the 
lost flights (now 1100 and counting) at 100+ people per 
flight.  PLUS, the airline is giving $500 vouchers for future travel, 
putting people up overnight, and giving food vouchers as well.  So 
expect the actual cost to be closer to $80M by the time this is all 
over.  And that presumes they don't do this with other aircraft.

As for the air fare increase, check the terms of the purchase.  At 
one time, you had a hard contract with the airline which stated THE 
price for the ticket without option for later surcharges.  I'm not so 
sure any more with all the goofy things the airlines are doing.....

One of the best kept secrets in aviation is Midway Airport and SW 
Airlines "hub" there.  Only Las Vegas, which is their biggest 
operation, is bigger than Midway's. When O'Hare is backed up for 
hours, Midway is usually on time or only slightly delayed.  Only 
unless Southwest or Airtran can't get me to someplace will I go to 
O'hare and fly UAL or AAR...or who ever as they're all there in some fashion.

And it won't get any better until they complete the runway 
reconfiguration...as some unknown point in the future.

MM