|
DALLAS—US Airways Group Inc., the only US carrier to
charge for sodas, coffee and tea, said its new policy
has cut cabin congestion and the time flight attendants
spend serving drinks.
The
attendants, who initially opposed the program, would
“riot” if the airline tried to return to the old system
of free nonalcoholic beverages, president Scott Kirby
said at a Calyon Securities conference in New York.
“Logjams in the aisles, significant trash collection,
lines at the restrooms—all those things are largely gone
on US Airways because fewer people are buying and
drinking sodas,” he said. “We spend less money, we
generate a little revenue and those problems are largely
gone.”
The
results help validate US Airways’ use of “ à la carte”
pricing in which fliers pay only for services they
select. Fees for drinks and checking bags are part of
$500 million in projected new annual revenue.
The
Tempe, Arizona-based airline began charging $2 for
sodas, juice and bottled water and $1 for coffee and tea
on August 1. The price of beer, wine and cocktails was
increased to $7 from $5.
“Kirby’s
comment that we would riot is just his way of telling
himself they made the right decision,’’ said Mike
Flores, president of the Association of Flight
Attendants-CWA at US Airways.
Among
other improvements, attendants now spend less time on
beverage service and collecting trash, Kirby said.
“Charging for sodas created a cabin environment that is
much calmer and more efficient,” he said.
Flores said that while charging for sodas has damped demand and
pared attendants’ time with beverage carts, the sales
haven’t reduced on-board trash. He also repeated the
union’s earlier concern that taking on responsibility
for sales would detract from attendants’ ability to
ensure cabin safety.
“This is
the very tip of the iceberg on what they’re going to
want us to sell,” Flores said. “It’s going to be
everything from pillows and blankets to cell-phone
chargers.” --Bloomberg |
