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Things to consider:

While we want good security and desire to "feel safe," we have to realize that there will be a price to pay for this. A hefty one. In 1999, when the airlines were running at about full capacity, there were over 8 million departures in the US. That includes mail, cargo and passenger. Do we only put sky marshalls on passenger flights? Wouldn't a cargo filled, transcontinental craft do as much damage? So how many skymarshalls will we need?

Eight million yearly flights amounts to about 22,000 flights a day. How many flights per day will a skymarshall fly on average? How many sky marshalls per plane? How many flying days per month will they be allowed to fly? (everyone has mandatory ground time)

We're probably looking at a force of about 25,000 (or more) skymarshalls and a bureaucracy to support them. I can't wait for the next tax increase and $1,000 domestic plane tickets to cover the cost. (We haven't even begun to consider the cost of increased ground security)

Don't get me wrong, I'm not against appropriate security measures, but once the air industry goes back to full capacity, we'll be picking up a mighty big tab.

"We're probably looking at a force of about 25,000 (or more) skymarshalls and a bureaucracy to support them."

I work at a glass plant that runs 24/7 and we need 4 shifts to run 24/7.
I would also think the same thing for skymarshalls since planes take off 24/7.
I bet we will need 100,000 skymarshalls to cover 24/7

"We're probably looking at a force of about 25,000 (or more) skymarshalls and a bureaucracy to support them. I can't wait for the next tax increase and $1,000 domestic plane tickets to cover the cost. (We haven't even begun to consider the cost of increased ground security)"

Considering the cost of the planes flying into the buildings, I wonder whether the increased cost of security will match that. Not that I'm into more gov't tax dollars being spent on this, but how many of our tax dollars are being spent on the clean up/rescue/rebuilding? I know that insurance companies are taking a hit upwards of 20 billion dollars, but that's exclusive of what the rescue guys overtime, etc. If the gov't spends 20 billion on clean up/rescue, how much would they spend on it next time WITHOUT skymarshalls? (Just a thought, not looking to get in a debate)