For the last week of April 2002 there were 25,120 fewer U.S. domestic flights operated, compared with the same time period in 2001, according to OAG, which maintains an independent database of airline schedules covering more than 950 airlines. That translates into nearly 3 million fewer available seats.

But despite these significant route cutbacks by major airlines this year, 55 percent of respondents to an April online poll by this magazine said the cutbacks would have slight impact on their meetings this year, while only 7 percent said the impact would be significant. And 77 percent said that the importance of air service as a site-selection factor in choosing a meeting destination has remained the same.