Side note -- The number of private pilots (or student pilots) has dropped substantially, which has to have an affect someday on the pool of commercial pilots airlines have to choose from.
How many of you decided you wanted to be a pilot after a brief look at the cockpit of a commercial jet plane? How many kids get the chance now?
Fuel costs are up and passengers traveling are down. It won't be pretty for a long time, but events one September kept many future "I want to be a pilot because I'm in love with airplanes" from having the chance to fall in love.