US airlines criticised

[aaron]

The Air Transport Association has dismissed controversial comments by a senior Congressman that large US airlines are "brain dead" dinosaurs, saying the remarks do not reflect the reality of the industry.

"The airline business collectively is a dynamic business operating under some of the most difficult conditions imaginable," said James May, chief executive of the ATA, whose board includes the chief executives of the major US carriers.

Last month John Mica, chairman of the House aviation subcommittee, accused some US airlines of being "pigs at the trough" for taking advantage of the post-September 11 environment and using United Airlines'' bankruptcy to ask Congress for financial help.

"You can only feed dinosaurs for so long," Mr Mica said. "The way to be attractive is to have a profit. You guys haven't found that out yet."

Aaron
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