With two major airlines — United and US Airways — in bankruptcy protection and Delta Air Lines creeping ever closer, passengers increasingly are worried about some fundamental issues of air travel such as aircraft safety and customer service.

Whenever an airline plunges into bankruptcy proceedings, or teeters on the edge, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) increases the level of surveillance of the carrier's maintenance operations.

FAA spokeswoman Alison Duquette said United, US Airways and Delta are on the FAA's "heightened surveillance list," which means the airlines' ramp operations, training, recordkeeping and maintenance facilities are inspected more often than usual.

Stepped-up inspections also occur when an airline begins seeking pay cuts from its employees, Duquette says. All three carriers have sought (and received) billions of dollars in pay and benefits cuts.

Customer service typically takes a hit when airlines begin slashing workers' wages. Morale gets bruised, and passengers see the difference at the ticket counter and on board their flights.

The Seattle Times