Bush Outlines Plan to Combat Flight Delays

The military will open some of its East Coast airspace to commercial traffic around Thanksgiving, President Bush announced today in a series of measures to cut down on air-travel delays, reports the Chicago Tribune's Swamp blog. “We can do better," Bush said in Washington. "We have an aviation system that can be improved."

Bush outlined several other measures, saying airlines have agreed to provide more staff to speed check-in and boarding. He also proposed new federal regulations to double compensation to passengers experiencing lengthy delays to $800, and so-called "congestion pricing" to allow airlines to charge more for flights during peak hours and to encourage them to spread flights out during the day. (More air travel stories.)