The deregulated industry would work if the government would let the weak companies die. You just said that, and then you say that the industry will probably never work deregulated. You were right the first time. As a country, we will be stronger and enjoy a better standard of living if the government does allow the weak companies to fail and go away. Stronger, more innovative companies will fill the voids. Possibly an entire paradigm shift in travel would occur. Maybe the inefficient manner that routes are done right now would change if the market were allowed to work. The market has an amazing way of eventually working out the best practices when allowed to perform.

In this free market, a company like Southwest is able to be very profitable while paying one of the leading wages in the industry while having some of the lowest fares available. There is evidence that a company that wants a very specific labor pool will pay enough to attract that labor. The market at work.

What happened to America? Do you have to be a socialist/communist/marxist to be a pilot these days?