Deregulation push?

[skyaddict]

The funny thing is that in supposedly socialist "Old Europe," the LCC's have dictated much lower ticket prices than here in the U.S.. Not sure if it's just a different point in the life cycle of regulation/de-regulation over there or what, but carriers like Ryanair, EasyJet and Air Berlin routinely sell seats at fares comparable or cheaper than the worst price war fares over here. Service and ATC delays are pretty bad there too, but the industry doesn't seem on the verge of collapse, and there's no call for re-regulation. Is it just that they are not seeing the fuel pain that we do, because their currency hasn't devalued to toy money like ours?

 

[cale42]

What people fail to grasp(particularly ex-Skybus execs) is the European pricing model is based on the fact that everything in Europe is a lot freaking closer together. Sure you can fly roundtrip from London to Amsterdam for $80 bucks.. but thats because they are only 200 miles apart. Thats like flying from St.Louis to Kansas City. The model goes to hell when you try and use in 1000 and 2000 mile city pairs which are fairly common in the US..

 

[Jon Rivoli]

All we need to do to fix the current problem is DRILL FOR OIL DOMESTICALLY. ANWAR, N. Dakota, S. Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, off the Pacific Coast, Gulf Coast and the Atlantic Coast. Upwards of 85% of our potential oil reserves are currently off limits due to environmental regulation.

 

[skyaddict]

I agree 100% we should be drilling in these off limits areas- albeit with strict environmental protection provisions for migrations, runoff, etc etc. Wildlife basically adapt as long as you give them a way around things. So much of the speculation on harming "pristine" areas is BS.

That said, Anwar etc would still only be a drop in the bucket, relatively speaking, wouldn't affect production for a long long time, and would not be cheap to extract. Still, in terms of price effects when one is up against the wall, everything helps. And Canada and new U.S. sources are rock solid safe politically, unlike the Middle east, Africa and places like Chavezuela.

 

[Flopgut]

It would be nice,but I don't think we'll get re-regulated this time. Now, if DOJ let's this, and other mergers through, we'll be able to fix our economic problems. It will be at that time, when the ticket prices go up, that there will be a cry for re-regulation?! Anything to get the prices down and make our professional lives completely provisional!!