No Break in the Turbulence

Strife at Eastern and Continental shakes the airline industry

In Washington, customers of the Thomas Cook travel agency refused to fly on Eastern Air Lines. In Manhattan, clerks at the bustling Avos agency on Fifth Avenue stopped writing tickets for Continental Air Lines. In Houston, passengers had to pass through picket lines on their way to flights. All across the U.S. last week, the normally routine business of air travel was suddenly overtaken by confusion and uncertainty. "People are scared," said Kathy Prezas, manager of Chicago's Apollo Travel. "They used to choose an airline for its food, or fares, or times. Now...