Do-It-Yourself Cuts Airline Workers

USA Today, 2/19/06, reports that do-it-yourself systems adopted by the nation's airlines (such as online reservations, online check-in, and self-service check-in kiosks), have reduced airline workforces. Over a four-year period (2000-2004), the number of airline workers dropped by 111,000, while the number of airline passengers rose by 33 million passengers. The article quotes veteran travelers as relishing the self-service systems, since it reduces long lines and avoids impersonal customers services.