2004 DECEMBER
Dec. 27, 2004

Airline Delays Over Christmas Weekend
Thousands of holiday travelers and their baggage were stranded or delayed at airports over the Christmas weekend due to employee shortages at U.S. Airways and a computer glitch at Delta Airlines. Two airline experts discuss the causes and effects of the weekend's airline problems.

  

Dec. 2, 2004

A History of the New York City Subway
Essayist Roger Rosenblatt looks at the history of the New York City subway, which turns 100 this year.

SEPTEMBER
Sept. 13, 2004

U.S. Airways Files for Bankruptcy for Second Time in Two Years
U.S. Airways Sunday filed for bankruptcy for the second time in two years. Delta Airlines announced plans last week to eliminate 10 percent of its workforce, and United Airlines is still struggling to recover from two years of bankruptcy proceedings.

  

AUGUST
Aug. 27, 2004

Terrorists May Be Responsible for the Plane Crashes in Russia
Investigators found traces of explosives, an indicator of terrorism, at the wreckage site of one of the two Russian airplanes downed this week. Ray Suarez speaks with regional experts about who might be responsible for the crashes that killed 90 people.

  

Aug. 27, 2004

Russian Officials Blame Terrorists for At Least One Jet Crash
Traces of explosives were found in the wreckage of one of the two airliners that went down in Russia earlier this week, indicating terrorism was the likely cause of the crash, Russian security officials said Friday.

Aug. 19, 2004

Chicago's O'Hare Airport, Major U.S. Airlines Agree to Reduce Flights
The Federal Aviation Administration announced an agreement to clear the air over Chicago's O'Hare Airport. Major U.S. airlines agreed to reduce the number of flights they route through O'Hare in order to alleviate congestion. Elizabeth Brackett looks at how these changes will affect the airline business and the flying public.

  

Aug. 16, 2004

Are We Safer?
The leaders of the 9/11 commission criticized the Transportation Security Administration at a Senate Commerce Committee hearing Monday for moving too slowly on its mandate to secure the nation's airways, railways and ports. Kwame Holman reviews today's testimony.

Aug. 11, 2004

Oil Prices Ease Slightly After Hitting Record Highs
Oil prices eased slightly lower Wednesday after hitting a new high Tuesday of $45.04 per barrel. Jeffrey Brown discusses the recent rise in oil prices and the factors that impact those prices with Robert Leiber, a professor of government and foreign service at Georgetown University.

  

JUNE
June 10, 2004

United Airlines' Struggle
After years of labor struggles, United Airlines says it is on track to avoid bankruptcy this summer. Elizabeth Brackett looks at United's turbulent flight back to friendly skies.

June 1, 2004

The Future of Oil
A recent rise in gas prices has refueled debate over the long-term use of oil as an affordable energy source. Jeffrey Brown gets perspectives from Paul Roberts, author of a new book titled "The End of Oil," and Daniel Yergin, author of "The Prize: The Epic Quest for Oil, Money and Power."

MAY
May 31, 2004

Summer Travel Season Preview
Ray Suarez speaks with Darryl Jenkins, visiting professor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and Betsy O'Rourke, vice president of marketing at the Travel Industry Association of America about the effects of rising gas prices, low-cost air fare, and heightened security alerts on the start of the summer travel season.

  

May 4, 2004

Pain at the Pump
American motorists are paying an average of $1.84 for a gallon for regular gasoline, the highest rate in history. Elizabeth Brackett looks at how high fuel prices are affecting Chicago.

  

APRIL
April 16, 2004

Safe Cargo?
Many of the most dangerous items on commercial aircraft may literally fly below what is screened. Spencer Michels looks at the logistical and economic challenges of screening checked baggage and air cargo.

April 2, 2004

Rocky Road
Both houses of Congress passed different versions of a transportation bill, both of which President Bush says are paved with pork-barrel projects that make them too expensive for him to sign. Kwame Holman explains the election-year politics behind the fight to fund the refurbishment of America's transportation infrastructure.

JANUARY
Jan. 22, 2004

Security vs. Privacy
Top airline industry executives met in Washington Thursday to develop an industry-wide standard for sharing confidential passenger information with federal antiterrorism officials. Experts explain and debate the proposal.

  

Jan. 2, 2004

Security Alert
Since the government raised the terror warning level to orange, or high, last month, at least ten U.S.-bound flights from foreign countries have been cancelled, delayed or escorted to the airport by jet fighters. Paul Davies updates the situation and Ray Suarez follows up in a conversation.