Airline cuts New Year's flights

Even though it's confident about its own year 2000 (Y2K) problem preparedness, American Airlines has announced that it is planning to cut back on some of its New Year's Eve and New Year's Day flights, citing lack of demand.

"Welcoming the new millennium from 30,000 feet doesn't seem to be a popular choice, if consumer demand for airline seats is any indication," the company said.

Because many airlines, railway and other transportation carriers have already begun cutting back on service during the year 2000 changeover, "it's going to become increasingly difficult" for people to travel if they don't leave before mid-December, said Capers Jones, chairman of Software Productivity Research.