Opinion: Think before aiding airlines again

When the airlines came calling, hat in hand, after the devastating terrorist attacks, Congress responded swiftly. With cash from the taxpayers, an industry critical to the nation got back to business. The nation's economy -- business travelers to tourists, medical supplies to mail -- is moving again. But even before the $15-billion bailout was pocketed by the ailing airlines, some of the carriers were moving ahead with plans to cut 100,000 jobs and to cheat laid-off employees out of their benefits.

It's incredible that the airlines could devise a way to worsen their public image. But the nation's largest carrier, American Airlines, did just that in announcing it would not honor contractual agreement to make severance payments to 20,000 workers. Members of Congress have a right to feel duped. The cash and emergency loan guarantees were reasonable attempts to reassure the flying public about the solvency and safety of America's airlines. Yet the cuts and broken promises from carriers in recent days only underscore lingering questions about airline management and service that existed before the attacks on New York and Washington.

Restoring passenger confidence is the top challenge facing the nation's airlines. Delta on Wednesday became the last of the major U.S. carriers to announce plans to cut its work force as the industry braces for an extended period of weak cash flow, service cutbacks and half-filled planes. Some in Washington have called the bailout the "first installment" of a longer-term financial package, but Congress should not provide another penny before making a distinction between the financial problems related to the terrorist attack and those that besieged the industry prior to Sept. 11. Congress largely squelched that debate last week in an effort to provide quick relief and show national unity. That spirit was admirable. But it's time for lawmakers to determine whether the airlines took advantage of that support.

The government is in a position to force the airlines to act responsibly. Beyond taxpayer support, the government will play a larger role, providing security and insurance coverage and backing new loans. That aid elevates the industry to a quasi-public institution, one both political parties have committed to protect. That should calm lenders and investors.

It may be impossible to apportion every debt and layoff to decisions made before, versus after, the attack. Congress made no such condition on its generosity. Yet in this period of great national sacrifice, the airlines risk being perceived as seizing every possible crumb they can, at the expense of their own employees and passengers. Their effort to regain public confidence is off to a sorry start.

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