Regulate 'em, Crandall says

[GogglesPisano]

Eliminate BK protection and the only the stongest will survive.

Eliminate free market competition and the consumer as well as the industry employees suffer.

F'n democrats. Get a life.

I believe De-regulation happened under Carter's watch. Ted Kennedy was a big supporter.

 

[MALSR]

This industry is regulated already. How else can you declare sham bankruptcies in federal court, have government pension bailouts, union lobbyists, and not call that government regulation.

 

[PCL_128]

"You f*cking academic eggheads! You don't know sh*t. You can't deregulate this industry. You're going to wreck it. You don't know a goddamn thing!"


​

— Robert L. Crandall, CEO American Airlines, addressing a Senate lawyer prior to airline deregulation, 1977.​

Classic quote. He was an anti-labor bastard, but he knew this industry better than anybody in the CEO's seat in this industry does now.

 

[Dude]

I am astonished when people talk about what politicians know or do not know about a given industry or subject. They are politicians and their knowlege of anything should be limited to the Constitution and the protection of it. No doubt, many have maneuvered in a way to circumvent the Constitution to suit immediate needs, but that isn't what I am talking about. You Bush haters just take 'r easy for a minute. We (the people) have given politicians far too much responsibilty and to expect them to know enough about every industry, so far as being able to fix it, is foolish and naive.

Government's role is NOT to fix any business or industry. The market is saddled with that one. I am sure many would like the return of the Bob Crandall days, but that would hurt everyone except those with well established political connections and alliances (Crandall, Ferris, Trippe). This is precisely why he and many others were opposed to the derregulation notion before. Derregulation provided the fight was fair and the Legacy/Majors hadn't operated in that sort of environment before. From day one, Trippe was being paid for services he did not provide. Clever negotiating on his part but bad for the consumer.

There is little debate about the state of our industry and the perils we face. The airlines have been quasi-regulated since Septenber 11, 2001 and we will continue to pay for that sin until government backs off and allows the market to determine what the watermark is for success. Reregulation would ensure the success of two or three domestice carriers and maybe two international carriers. A possible capacity reduction of 40 percent or more would result. Many employed today would face the exact fate that Mr. Goodman described, in his previous post, and be forced to learn a new skill and forget the pipedream that is aviation.

What we are experiencing now is an event that should have happened 25-30 years ago. Instead, we are going through what our fathers should have. If it's not oil, it would be something else. Oil is a worthy villian because not one employee group, CEO, shareholder, or consumer can be blamed for the unprecedented rise of oil. This correction would happen with or without high energy prices and government is seldom able to right their own wrongs. It will take a innovative, resourceful, and strategic set of companies to right this ship.

 

[Soverytired]

Dude,

Nice post. I agree with 95% of it.

When most pilots say "re-regulate", what they mostly mean is "the government has to guarantee my job." Then they try and say how this is really for the good of the American people . . . even though the deregulation of airlines has been a huge boon to the flying public.

One thing is for certain . . . regulation or not, there are going to be a lot few pilots around 2-4 years from now.

 

[atrdriver]

If you want to eliminate BK protection for airlines, then it has to apply for everybody, not just airlines.

BK protection should end for all types of corporations, as well as individuals. It amazes me that people make bad decisions, buy things they can't afford, and then run to court and get out of paying the bills. That applies to corporations as well.

 

[HalinTexas]

Regulate it?

Answer: Amtrak. Now there's a well run state-sponsored, highly efficient, fast mode of transportation.

How 'bout Greyhound? Anyone remember Trailways? Didn't think so.

 

[PCL_128]

Regulate it?

Answer: Amtrak. Now there's a well run state-sponsored, highly efficient, fast mode of transportation.

Good example. Amtrak charges a reasonable amount of money for their fares (a lot more than a comparable airline ticket) and provides much better service. Sounds good to me.

 

[SilverandSore]

Mr. Bush and his fellow Republicans have proven for 8 years that they don't have a clue about either.

Yeah, and the Democrats for the previous 50 years? How'd they do?

 

[InTransit]

What?

Hmmm. I believe the Republicans have bankrupted the country, led us into a war without end, and presided over the massive decline of the US airline industry.

If you want to eliminate BK protection for airlines, then it has to apply for everybody, not just airlines.

The "gubment" needs to have a coherent energy and air transportation policy. Mr. Bush and his fellow Republicans have proven for 8 years that they don't have a clue about either.

The airline industry is way too capital intensive to run like small town taxi industry. If that's ok with the country, then it deserves the kind wild swings in service and prices that it gets. Just like it's been said . . . "every people get the kind of government they deserve." Looks like we deserve a corrupt, incompetent and dishonest government.

Time to make a change. Anything has to be better than the sick clown-show who's running it now.

Lay off the booze man. Do you realize how much of the past eight years has been damage control for the previous eight?

 

[PCL_128]

Lay off the booze man. Do you realize how much of the past eight years has been damage control for the previous eight?

That's one hell of a pathetic excuse.

 

[HalinTexas]

Here's a price comparison:

I looked at three of the four modes available to get from Dallas to Chicago this weekend. I didn't include driving.

Amtrak: Limited schedule. 1way = $173. Duration: 23:34

Greyhound: Slightly less limited. 1way = $164 (refundable). Duration: 20:50

American Airlines (DFW-ORD): Good schedule availability. Roundtrip = $781. Duration: 2:15 (non-stop).

Southwest (DAL-MDW): Good schedule, all one-stop, some change plane, limited availability. Roundtrip = $523. Duration: 3:30 depending on the stop.

UAL (DFW-ORD): pretty good schedule, OK availability. Rountrip = 558. Duration: 2:15 or so.

I didn't do anything special. This is a last minute look up no FF miles.

 

[BigMeat]

Lay off the booze man. Do you realize how much of the past eight years has been damage control for the previous eight?

Hmmm. Spoken like a true uneducated monkeys @ss. Enjoy the next several years at the regionals if your lucky. I got my number at the majors if I get furloughed I will have a place waiting for me. You on the other hand, well....get back to your trailer!

 

[Jmoney]

Hmmm. Spoken like a true uneducated monkeys @ss. Enjoy the next several years at the regionals if your lucky. I got my number at the majors if I get furloughed I will have a place waiting for me. You on the other hand, well....get back to your trailer!

That number at a major is great.... Let's see-
-Braniff
-Pan Am
-Eastern
-TWA

Lots of people at those majors had numbers too. I'll bet some don't have as nice a trailer as your RJ buddy now..... There are no sure bets in this industry-your major number may not be worth nearly as much as you think.

-Unducated monkey @ss!

 

[instructordude]

Hmmm. Spoken like a true uneducated monkeys @ss. Enjoy the next several years at the regionals if your lucky. I got my number at the majors if I get furloughed I will have a place waiting for me. You on the other hand, well....get back to your trailer!

I've got a number also and a backup plan in Law Enforcement!:angryfire

J-Monkey sucks!