Comments on: Airlines: Don’t Repeat 2001’s Mistake - Let Them Fail

By: sfcb

sfcb — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 17:13:07 +0000

I’m sure the unions that represent airline workers would be thrilled to see many of their members lose their jobs, and those who remain have their salaries reduced.

By: matt621

matt621 — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 16:31:33 +0000

Absolutely let them fail. I agree with that completely and without reservation. I don’t think the government should contribute anything to bailing out any business, no matter the size.

But a question: when someone who used to work at one of these failed airlines reaches the point of losing his home to foreclosure, what should the government do then?

By: Sean D. Martin

Sean D. Martin — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 23:49:09 +0000

G in INdiana: If the flying public wants better service, better planes, etc. they have to be willing to pay for it

And if the customer isn’t willing to pay for it, your business will fail. Fair enough. Fine with me. It’s called “the market”.

Is a basic tenet of our capitalist system not OK with you?

By: Quartz

Quartz — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 15:32:07 +0000

No doubt. Look at Southwest Air.

By: jr

jr — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 14:46:30 +0000

Cons see the government as an ATM machine for Wall St

By: G in INdiana

G in INdiana — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 11:24:11 +0000

Unlike other industries, since deregulation the airlines have never been able to charge the price it truly costs to fly. $200 to get to Vegas from Cincinnati? WTF? Yes that’s what my husband paid and I know it wasn’t even half the true cost of getting there.
Since it is very easy to start up an airline, put it in a market to drive down prices to the bone for all carriers, and then go belly up it is done time and again. Look at the track record of start up airlines. As one comic said it’s the easiest way to make a billion dollars worth a million.
If the flying public wants better service, better planes, etc. they have to be willing to pay for it, like the old days before deregulation turned the airlines into a ponzi scheme.

By: Sabutai

Sabutai — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 19:57:18 +0000

Warren Buffet is known for saying that nobody ever earned a profit on an airline, and that their bottom lines are dependent on unpredictable government largesse.

It’s tough to argue with that.

By: midderpidge

midderpidge — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 19:05:54 +0000

Oh yeah? But is rail travel safer?

I once heard of a train barreling down the rail when WHAM!!! CRASH!!! all 240 passengers and crew killed in a fiery wreck. 565 People dead all told when you include the passengers of the plane that fell on it.

Think twice before getting on that train.

By: Enlightened Liberal

Enlightened Liberal — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 18:31:53 +0000

Passenger rail in many corridors is faster. For example, from Washington-NY-Philadelphia-Boston. Rail service generally goes center city to center city, saving the transfers on each side. A rail system like they have in France with the TGV would probably cut into airline dominance on short haul flats.

Alas, it will probably not come to pass.

By: Mold

Mold — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 16:25:00 +0000

If the airlines fail we can expect that passenger rail would increase. The only benefit of air travel is the time savings. With most business travel, a laptop and wireless on a cross-country trip would be more than adequate. Oh. The bizness world hates it. It means hiring more comptetent people instead of making do with one that flies constantly.

By: jerry

jerry — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 15:18:16 +0000

Get with the program. Bailing out huge corporations is the American Way. Pony up your paycheck in that line over there.

By: Duros62

Duros62 — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 15:06:07 +0000

“A safe, viable and effective commercial air travel system is important to America’s economy and to our way of life.”

That was then. Now, not so much.
As I said at Balloon Juice, I am willing to pay you money and literally put my life in your hands. Is it too much to expect that the airtight metal cylinder you cram me in is safe to occupy?