US Airways will stop movies on domestic flights

TEMPE, Ariz. — Better bring a book on flights. US Airways says it will start removing in-flight entertainment systems on domestic flights in November to save about $10 million annually in fuel and other costs.

Spokesman Phil Gee says the movie systems weigh about 500 pounds each, forcing planes to use more fuel to get around the country.

Jet fuel costs have skyrocketed in recent years, slashing profits and leading to thousands of layoffs and flight cuts throughout the industry.

Gee says US Airways will cut the movie systems from about 200 aircraft. But it will keep movies in its widebody aircraft for international flights and trips to Hawaii.

US Airways says it will test a lighter, seat-back TV system later this year. However, Gee says a new entertainment system is a long way off.

Comments

[Badbone]

Wonderful! I love to see the airlines self destruct. No group of companies deserve it more.

[TheInsomniac]

C'mon, they provide an important service. This has never exactly been a high profit margin industry. And with all of the bureaucratic rules they are forced to adhere to in order to provide the illusion of safety to fearful Americans I actually pity them.

[dadw5boys]

The only reason the entertainment system weighs 500 lb is because of regulation for fireand control. So be happy they are not trying to cut back on saftey instead.

[landmine]

I always breathe a sign of relief when I get on a flight out of the country. Clean , polite, efficient service and often a classy experience. Of course I'm talking Luftansa.

[oldschooldemocrat]

I'm almost 60. On the first flight I took my mom wore a hat and white gloves, and my brother and I wore our Sunday clothes. Everyone else looked about the same. This was a cross-country flight and not only did we get real meals with real utensils, there was an upstairs with a cocktail lounge. I believe the cost was way higher than we pay now for first class and we were in economy. If we want a return to flying being for "upper class" customers, we'll have to pay for it. In the meantime, I avoid domestic carriers whenever possible especially US Airways which is the worst of a sorry lot. Just a reminder that relatively inexpensive air travel for ordinary citizens used to be out of reach for most of us most of the time. That doesn't mean that the US airline industry isn't in the hands of incompetent, over-paid, union-busting tools.

[landmine]

I'd be interested to know what aircraft had an upstairs when you were that small. I just can't recall one.

[revko]

Jefferson Airplane?

[AnotherMike]

If 500 pounds on an aircraft that weighs 40 tons is really worth eliminating in-flight entertainment, why are we not charging people based on their weight?

I shouldn't have to pay the same ticket price as some orca wheezing away in the isle seat while I try to hold my bladder for fear of having to squeeze past, if this is such a big deal.

Or, stop playing garbage movies! Who wouldn't fork over a couple bucks to watch The Godfather or something else we know is good, that we may not have seen in a while...

[Eric8869]

Maybe you should pay a nasty jerk fee. If you call people "orca's".

"The Godfather" - can you be at least a little original. geeez

[AnotherMike]

You can coddle fat people all you want, Eric. That doesn't change the fact that we're the most overweight nation in the world. The FDA is now testing blood pressure medication for children as young as eight, for god's sake!

Ban smoking everywhere, but put a McDonald's on every corner. Thank you, drive through.

[ramper]

They should hand out Lego sets. They are light.

[trollsbwild]

Good. Last year on a red eye flight from SFO, they showed the Devil Wears Prada. No problem with that, except for the "women" next to me didn't have the decency to stop cackling like a psycho. It took incredible restraint to not verbally rip her apart.
If that stops this type of behavior, then thank you, US Air.

[Eric8869]

Then put on music or something. You're the psycho.

[SouthJerseySteve]

As a frequent flier, I have two words: SOUTHWEST AIRLINES!

[SouthJerseySteve]

Wanna save lots of weight? Remove the flotation devices and oxygen masks. We never use them anyway.

[Eric8869]

When we land in the ocean or lose air pressure I don't want to be watching the latest Adam Sandler epic. You can't be serious?????

[mbrownNY]

Airplanes don't land in the ocean... they crash in the ocean (and very very rarely). How many people actually survive crash-landings in the ocean? At that speed, you might as well be hitting concrete.

[KoolBreez]

Cut the 'waiters with altitude' . They are the most annoying part of the experience.

[Stayalert]

Should the flight attendant pass you up when your heart attack occurs? Sorry, Ithey didn't see you gripping your chest.

[Ray46]

"Should the flight attendant pass you up when your heart attack occurs?

You are probably SOL in either case. They probably removed the defibrillator, oxygen, first aid kits, and stopped the emergency training to save a few extra bucks.

[KoolBreez]

The sight of them would only aggrevate the condition..

[Eric8869]

They will be too busy chatting among themselves in the back to notice anyone having a heart attack.

[sage25]

This is GREAT news.

I never purchased those lame corporate movie products on flights, always preferring to read something instead. Now I won't have to put my window up to accommodate those with lesser tastes.

A real innovation would be to figure out how to seat beautiful women next to those of us traveling alone. I always seem to end up sandwiched between heavy people.

[cjmartinez]

The real innovation for women will be to figure out how to ignore you without in-flight movies.

[Stayalert]

HAHA LOL CJmartinez! Sage doesn't even recall that you pull down the window shades.

[sage25]

You don't sound like the type of person who'd attract anyone's company, male or female.

[Eric8869]

I hope you're reading self help books on how to get over yourself.

[Cynth]

LOL!

[sage25]

If I had to guess, I'd say you're one of those people who takes up a lot of space on flights and makes several trips to the bathroom.

[tomcatv1]

Riding a plane today is like riding a bus. It's cheap, no frills movement of warm bodys from point A to point B. You don't get movies on a bus... you shouldn't expect them on an airplane. Quit whining and get used to it.

[Eric8869]

Buses are cheap - flights are not. you get used to it.

[Cynth]

Jetblue is able to do it with commfort & entertainment....love them.

[mbrownNY]

JetBlue is the worst when it comes to cancelations though. I always have problems when I fly them, and they are not good about compensating you.

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

Between the recent Supreme Court decision and this story, I propose to start a well-regulated militia in rows 17-23, to taunt the people in rows 1-5, for the entertainment of those stuck in rows 6-16.

[Stayalert]

Sounds good!

[joebaggadonuts]

Why not just get rid of flight attendants. That would save more money and they take up seats you could sell too! Ummm let's see. On domestic only aircraft, they could issue privacy screens and bed pans and eliminate the whole toilet function weight etc. All you would need is a place to dump as you deplane and they could pass that cost on to the airport. Oh, and lighting and other in-cabin controls, they take up space and weight too. If passengers want to read, let them bring their own book lights. Don't forget the oxygen system and the other safety features like emergency slides, rafts and inflatable life preservers. They weigh lots! Since we are getting rid of controllers by the score, why keep these out-dated notions of safety that cost no one but the airlines?

[mbrownNY]

Seriously though... flight attendants are becoming less and less useful now that all amenities are being taken away. On most domestic flights, all they do is serve beverages and pass out bags of chips (if you're lucky).

[Cynth]

True...and I notice some attitude changes, too.

[GerryS]

The movies shown on flights are a prime example of the dumbing down of Amereica so no loss there
and 500# of added cargo they can carry-

gotta keep the bonuses flowing for those hard working airline execs-