Spirit Airlines CEO defends decision to charge carry-on fees

Spirit Airlines CEO, Ben Baldanza, defended the carrier's decision to charge for carry-on baggage, stating the charge will eliminate delays as the carrier "identified excessive carry-on baggage as the number one controllable reason that our planes were being delayed at the gate" (Seattlepi.com, 11-Apr-2010). US Department of Transportation Secretary, Ray LaHood, called the Spirit decision as "outrageous" and "ridiculous", adding "I don't think they care about their customers". Meanwhile, New York Senator, Charles Schumer, reportedly called on Treasury Scretary, Timothy Geithner, to reverse recent legislation allowing Spirit to keep the carry-on baggage charge tax free (The Consumerist, 12-Apr-2010).