Maybe it's a flight of fancy, but airline's plan favorable

Wait. Did someone say something about air travel being fun again?

Sign me up.

Chances are, if you're younger than 35, you can't remember a time when flying was a pleasure. You'll just have to trust me when I say that back in the day, major airlines were known for their gracious service and attention to detail. People once dressed to fly and were treated like royalty on board.

Or so I hear. I never flew back then. Couldn't afford it.

Elegant air travel cost money, so no-name airlines cropped up, catering to cheapskates like me. They offered fewer frills in exchange for unbelievable fares.

Either way - first class or Freddie Laker - flying was a whole lot of fun.

No more.

In the past 15 years, air travel has gone from merely unpleasant to downright awful. And not just because of tight security and TSA agents.

Indifferent airline employees, excessive fees and cramped cabins have become the hallmarks of the American airline industry. The only thing that soars these days are the prices.

It's even worse here in southeastern Virginia, where direct flights are scarce and getting almost anywhere is a logistical challenge.

Seems everyone who's flown anywhere recently has a horror story. Canceled flights. Punishing fees for bags and flight changes.

In 2009, a YouTube video that captured the frustration of air passengers became in Internet sensation. "United Breaks Guitars" was created by Canadian musician Dave Carroll, after he'd spent months trying to get that airline to replace an expensive Taylor instrument that bag handlers had manhandled.

No one cared, until Carroll was on the national news venting about his gothic experience.

Just last weekend, my daughter watched in disbelief as a surly airline worker threw her cute polka-dot bag - a high school graduation gift - from the jetway to the tarmac below after she'd been ordered to gate-check her carry-on.

"Should I call the airline and complain?" she asked me.

"Why bother," I replied. "No one's interested in customer service."

Wait. Here comes Michael Morisi. He may be.

This Chesapeake businessman with vast airline experience wants to start a discount airline with its hub in Newport News. He's ready to jump in to fill the vacuum that will exist when AirTran leaves the Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport next month. Morisi has purchased the old PeoplExpress name and promises a company with profit sharing for workers, presumably to give them a financial stake in the airline's success.

"We want to make flying fun again," Morisi said. "The company will be all about the people."

The chief operating officer for Airline Management LLC envisions an airline that will serve small airports with cut-rate fares, no baggage fees and a streamlined operation. That's been a winning strategy for Southwest, but other newbies have gambled on that formula and lost.

Anyone else have fond memories of Independence Air?

Morisi said he'll initially employ 350 folks, with the workforce growing to 1,000 in three years. He'd like to start flying this summer.

It's a long shot.

Not only are many airlines hemorrhaging money, but Morisi will need financing and FAA approval to get off the ground. Making matters worse, fuel prices are skyrocketing again.

Look, what I know about business could fit in a thimble. Still, Morisi's model makes sense. In theory, anyway.

If a new airline would come to our little cul-de-sac offering cheap flights - with a little fun thrown in - there's a chance it could actually take off.

Kerry Dougherty, 757-446-2306, kerry.dougherty@cox.net, PilotOnline.com/dougherty