Point taken, Tom, but the point is shipping needs the stop outside the US to avoid cabotage and Jones Act violations.

TEN YEARS GONE,

How does PAA's story relate? The downfall of PAA has nothing to do with foreign carriers entering the US market. The bidding war for National was between PAA and EAL, Borman even bragged that the price was too high and PAA couldn't afford it and buying them wasn't necessary. In the 30 years since, there has not been one discussion of relieving cabotage law.

In any case, DL got most of PAA's route authority, so you benefited. Why have US carriers continued to retreat from international markets? Perhaps, because they can't find passengers who will fly to Europe, Asia on them? PAA went out of business mostly because of their high handed service, poor management and an assumption that US passengers should want to fly on them. Sound familiar?

GF