TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS MAY GROUND BRANIFF

Braniff International’s new top management team is off to a good start in its attempt to turn around the financially troubled trunk carrier. But industry observers are worried that the long-threatened strike by the nation’s air traffic controllers could ground Braniff for good.

The strike of air traffic controllers at all the nation’s airports could be called at any time. The nation’s air traffic would be slowed down considerably -if not cancelled.

Federal Aviation Administration officials have promised to man control towers at the largest airports with FAA employees, but that effort would not be enough to prevent a large number of flight cutbacks.

Braniffs financial future is still so precarious that a cutback of a significant number of flights for just a few days would upset the plans of the troubled air carrier. “Braniff, simply to survive, has to have a certain number of paying customers on their planes every day,” an industry spokesman says. “Any interruption of that could be fatal, given Braniffs debt structure.

“It’s simply a shame that this would happen at this time,” he adds. “Braniff has done a lot to improve its financial shape. You won’t find a more competitive airline in the business right now.”

During the last several months, Braniff has mounted an aggressive advertising campaign featuring the airline’s new fare structure that is about the lowest available among the major airlines.

Among the gimmicks are the vaunted “zinger fare” which is lower than the “super saver” offered on Braniff and American. Braniff also is now offering passenger discount coupons that can be used on future flights.