Your cynicism is justified. In judging how well airlines have performed since deregulation, why not also consider that airlines have filed multiple bankruptcies financially harming suppliers and airports, breached capital improvement bond covenants harming bond holders, destroyed or compromised many retirement plans and benefits of their union employees, formed alliances and mergers that should have been the subject of more meaningful antitrust enforcement, unjustly and unfairly devalued the value of frequent flier mile benefits, squeezed the size of seats on airplanes so the average passenger is uncomfortable, lobbied Congress to allow airlines to charge fees for baggage and other amenities that are not subject to normal aviation fund taxation, and finally have overpaid their executives with salaries, lifetime flying benefits, and golden parachutes. The airlines are hardly a good example of business acumen and competence. Who really likes to fly anymore? Is there any evidence the airlines truly care about their passengers? I submit airlines are no longer especially admired or respected by the public. BKL
On Thu, Jul 3, 2025, 1:59β―PM Tom Windmuller via Mifnet < mifnet@lists.mifnet.com> wrote: > At the risk of sounding cynical, would anyone else agree that government > policies and government bailouts also played a rΓ΄le? > > tom w. > > <https://r.smartbrief.com/resp/tVzqCPapDGaDzACifPfRCicNzSVx?format=multipart> > > <https://r.smartbrief.com/resp/tVzqCPapDGaDzACifPfRCicNzSVx?format=multipart> > > <https://r.smartbrief.com/resp/tVzqCPapDGaDzACifPfRCicNzSVx?format=multipart>How > the "big three" US airlines survive and thrive > <https://r.smartbrief.com/resp/tVzqCPapDGaDzACifPfRCicNzSVx?format=multipart> > [image: How the "big three" US airlines survive and thrive] > <https://r.smartbrief.com/resp/tVzqCPapDGaDzACifPfRCicNzSVx> > > (Craig Hastings/Getty Images) > The largest US airlines -- Delta Air Lines, American Airlines and United > Airlines -- have survived deregulation and other economic fluctuations by > leveraging their formidable assets, embracing marketing innovations and > taking advantage of acquisition opportunities. "The fact that these > carriers are still in existence, I think it's a combination of astute > management and uniquely favorable conditions," said aviation historian Shea > Oakley, who runs an airline history consultancy. > *Full Story: *Travel Weekly > <https://r.smartbrief.com/resp/tVzqCPapDGaDzACifPfRCicNzSVx?format=multipart> > (7/2 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Revised: 20250507 > > You are receiving The Mifnet because you requested to join this list. > > The Mifnet is largely a labor of love, however the infrastructure isn't > exactly cost-free. If you'd care to make a small contribution to the > effort, please know that it would be greatly appreciated: > https://wardell.us/url/mifbit > > All posts sent to the list should abide by these policies: > > 1) List members acknowledge that participation in Mifnet is a > privilege--not a right. > 2) Posts are always off the record, absent specific permission from the > author. > 3) The tone of discussions is collegial. > 4) Posts are expected to be in reasonably good taste. > 5) We discuss ideas and not personalities, and we don't speak ill of other > Mifnet members. > > * The Mifnet WEB SITE is: > https://www.mifnet.com/ > > * To UNSUBSCRIBE from this list at any time please visit: > https://lists.mifnet.com/ > OR: SEND THIS MESSAGE via email: > mifnet-requ...@lists.mifnet.com?subject=leave > > * Send Mifnet mailing list POSTS/SUBMISSIONS to: > mifnet@lists.mifnet.com > > * You may reach the person managing The Mifnet at: > mifnet-ow...@lists.mifnet.com > > * Please consider the DIGEST version of The Mifnet, which consolidates all > list traffic into 1-3 > messages daily. See instructions at: > https://lists.mifnet.com/ > > * Manage your personal Mifnet SUBSCRIPTION at: > https://lists.mifnet.com/ > > * For a list of all available Mifnet commands, SEND THIS MESSAGE via email: > mifnet-requ...@lists.mifnet.com?subject=help > > * View The Mifnet LIST POLICIES and PRIVACY POLICY at: > https://mifnet.com/index.php/policies > > * View instructions for Mifnet DELIVERY PROBLEMS at: > https://mifnet.com/index.php/delivery-problems > > * View The Mifnet LIST ARCHIVE at: > https://lists.mifnet.com/hyperkitty/list/mifnet@lists.mifnet.com/ >
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Revised: 20250507 You are receiving The Mifnet because you requested to join this list. The Mifnet is largely a labor of love, however the infrastructure isn't exactly cost-free. If you'd care to make a small contribution to the effort, please know that it would be greatly appreciated: https://wardell.us/url/mifbit All posts sent to the list should abide by these policies: 1) List members acknowledge that participation in Mifnet is a privilege--not a right. 2) Posts are always off the record, absent specific permission from the author. 3) The tone of discussions is collegial. 4) Posts are expected to be in reasonably good taste. 5) We discuss ideas and not personalities, and we don't speak ill of other Mifnet members. * The Mifnet WEB SITE is: https://www.mifnet.com/ * To UNSUBSCRIBE from this list at any time please visit: https://lists.mifnet.com/ OR: SEND THIS MESSAGE via email: mifnet-requ...@lists.mifnet.com?subject=leave * Send Mifnet mailing list POSTS/SUBMISSIONS to: mifnet@lists.mifnet.com * You may reach the person managing The Mifnet at: mifnet-ow...@lists.mifnet.com * Please consider the DIGEST version of The Mifnet, which consolidates all list traffic into 1-3 messages daily. See instructions at: https://lists.mifnet.com/ * Manage your personal Mifnet SUBSCRIPTION at: https://lists.mifnet.com/ * For a list of all available Mifnet commands, SEND THIS MESSAGE via email: mifnet-requ...@lists.mifnet.com?subject=help * View The Mifnet LIST POLICIES and PRIVACY POLICY at: https://mifnet.com/index.php/policies * View instructions for Mifnet DELIVERY PROBLEMS at: https://mifnet.com/index.php/delivery-problems * View The Mifnet LIST ARCHIVE at: https://lists.mifnet.com/hyperkitty/list/mifnet@lists.mifnet.com/
