Thursday, June 26, 2008

More airline regulation?

My letter to RedEye, responding to its article about dealing with cost-cutting airlines:

Dear Editor:

Airline critics like Kate Hanni, of the Coalition for an Airline Passengers Bill of Rights, cling to the Holy Grail of more regulation. ("Trouble in the Air," June 25.) If only the federal government cracked down on the airlines, Ms. Hanni believes, everything would be fine. The government can't sell the airlines $1/gal. jet fuel. The government can't compensate the airlines for unsold seats, eliminating the need for overbooking. The government can't prevent bad weather in New York from affecting travel nationwide. Government regulation sounds good to angry travelers, but only results in what we all want to avoid: higher fares.

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