I suppose it was only a matter of time. Philadelphians opened their newspapers Friday to ads trumpeting new airline Derrie-Air’s announced policy to charge passengers “by the pound” reasoning that “it takes more fuel to move heavier objects.”
Derrie-Air’s sample rates range from $1.40 per pound to fly from Philadelphia to Chicago, to $2.25 per pound to fly from Philadelphia to Los Angeles. Philadelphia Media Holdings spokesman Jay Devine said “there’s already buzz about the campaign…”
It’s a radical plan, but not surprising with fuel prices sky-rocketing and airlines scrambling to eek out a profit. Other airlines have announced plans to charge passengers for second checked bags, with one airline planning to charge for each checked bag.
Derrie-Air claims to be the world’s only carbon-neutral luxury airline, and it justifies its fare policy by pledging to plant trees to offset every pound of carbon its planes release into the atmosphere. That may help appease green travelers, but other passengers may not be as receptive.
You can read more at flyderrie-air.com and in this SFGate news story.