The article below from NYTimes.com has been sent to you by psa188@xxxxxxxxx /--------- E-mail Sponsored by Fox Searchlight ------------\ I HEART HUCKABEES - OPENING IN SELECT CITIES OCTOBER 1 From David O. Russell, writer and director of THREE KINGS and FLIRTING WITH DISASTER comes an existential comedy starring Dustin Hoffman, Isabelle Hupert, Jude Law, Jason Schwartzman, Lily Tomlin, Mark Wahlberg and Naomi Watts. Watch the trailer now at: http://www.foxsearchlight.com/huckabees/index_nyt.html \----------------------------------------------------------/ Travelers' Group to Ask for Airline Failure Contingency Plan October 12, 2004 By MICHELINE MAYNARD A group representing business travelers is expected to ask Congress today to draft plans in the event that several major airlines are forced to liquidate. The Business Travel Coalition said in a statement that the country must be prepared for a "catastrophic failure" of the industry and urged lawmakers to authorize the National Academy of Sciences to develop policies that could be put in place should the industry reach such a crisis point. Without action now, the federal government could be overwhelmed by the demands of airlines, their unions, investors, airports and others affected by the industry's crisis, said Kevin P. Mitchell, chairman of the group, which represents corporate travel departments and travelers. He noted that half of the traditional airlines could be operating under bankruptcy protection within a month, and the level could increase to 70 percent by the end of 2005. US Airways and UAL Corporation's United Airlines are already bankrupt, and Delta Air Lines could file for Chapter 11 as soon as this month unless it is able to slash its costs and repair its balance sheet quickly. Analysts say other airlines could be forced to seek bankruptcy to reduce wages and benefits to levels achieved by their rivals. "There is increasing probability that the U.S. airline industry, a critical infrastructure for our country, will experience a catastrophic failure in the next 12 months" should two or three airlines liquidate, Mr. Mitchell said. While he thought the market place would adjust to a loss of airlines, he said others had much to lose, including local communities, employees, pension funds and other industries like rental cars and hotels. "The larger danger," he said, "is that the federal government would be caught off guard without well conceived and vetted contingency plans and policy options in such a crisis." http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/12/business/12air.html?ex=1098590610&ei=1&en=d0669eb092e4c5bf --------------------------------- Get Home Delivery of The New York Times Newspaper. Imagine reading The New York Times any time & anywhere you like! Leisurely catch up on events & expand your horizons. Enjoy now for 50% off Home Delivery! Click here: http://homedelivery.nytimes.com/HDS/SubscriptionT1.do?mode=SubscriptionT1&ExternalMediaCode=W24AF HOW TO ADVERTISE --------------------------------- For information on advertising in e-mail newsletters or other creative advertising opportunities with The New York Times on the Web, please contact onlinesales@xxxxxxxxxxx or visit our online media kit at http://www.nytimes.com/adinfo For general information about NYTimes.com, write to help@xxxxxxxxxxxx Copyright 2004 The New York Times Company