Regarding the Dec. 29 front-page article “Southwest didn’t heed warnings, unions say”: As passengers find out that many shortcomings exist in our nation’s airline system, they might not appreciate that the airline “meltdown” affecting millions of travelers around Christmastime was completely avoidable. The problem goes back to 1978, when the airline industry was deregulated, and competition and profits were prioritized over basic public-utility goals.
Airline deregulation was a factor in the holiday airline mess
January 3, 2023