Flying Cheaper

A decade ago aircraft repairs were mostly done by the airlines flying the planes. Today, carriers are outsourcing the bulk of heavy maintenance. Should we worry? A co-production with the Investigative Reporting Workshop.

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Flying CheaperA decade ago, aircraft repair work was mostly done by airlines flying the planes. Today, most major airlines outsource the bulk of heavy maintenance to lower-cost independents. Should we worry?

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RELATED REPORT

(56:31) Do you know who's flying your plane? Investigating airlines' outsourcing of flights to obscure regional carriers...

Flying Cheap

InterviewsWith representatives of the FAA, the maintenance industry and a consumer advocate The Making of This Report"It all began with tips from our viewers..." MapMaintenance contractors worldwide -- and the number of FAA-licensed workers Chat With Miles O'BrienRead the archived conversation

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In a follow-up to Flying Cheap, the hard-hitting investigation into major airlines' outsourcing of flights to obscure regional airlines, FRONTLINE and the Investigative Reporting Workshop examine another growing trend: the outsourcing of major airline repair work to lower-cost independent maintenance operations in the U.S and abroad. (read more »)

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