Why Air Travel is So Miserable in America
Watch: If airlines are profitable, why are so many flights delayed, why is airport security so bad in the U.S. and how do they deal with increasingly severe weather situations? A CNBC investigation. Video
CNBC Marathon explores if airlines are profitable, why airlines face so many delays and how new technologies can streamline airport security.
Passenger airlines are a crucial industry in the global economy, but the sector is also extremely volatile. Running a passenger airline is an asset-intensive industry with narrow profit margins. Despite the risks, the industry has experienced some periods of consistent growth, which can lull investors into a false sense of security.
Meanwhile, thousands of U.S. flights have been delayed or canceled this year which can cost airlines tens of millions of dollars. CNBC went to the Federal Aviation Administrations Air Traffic Control System Command Center to get an inside look at how the FAA deals with increasingly severe weather situations.
And remember a time when getting through airport security was quick and easy. But after the attacks on 9/11, the TSA, or Transportation Security Administration, was created and security screenings became much more thorough. With millions of people passing through TSA checkpoints every day, this can create excruciating long lines, especially during holiday travel. In response, Delta, JetBlue, and American Airlines are just a few of the U.S. airlines starting to test facial recognition for boarding and TSA checkpoints.
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