msc kvetch: air traffic control cuts?

Does it really make sense to cut air-traffic control? Weren’t there already too few wide-awake folks in the towers? Here I am delayed at LGA, NY, but I will say that Delta is impressively laying out free cold drinks and snacks. I just don’t see how airlines can function with so much unpredictable regulatory control. Have you noticed airline fares have gone through the roof in the last year? Strangely, I hear no one talking about it, but I’m pretty sure it has a lot to do with airlines being required (by a newly imposed law) to give people 24 hours to change a ticket without penalty–in case they make a mistake– and the huge new TSA taxes, which, incidentally, airlines are required to combine with the base price so you cannot even see how much it is. I’ve also noticed that prices are essentially identical across airlines and travel websites (so far as I can tell), whereas there used to be a lot of variability. Nor is it just that I trade in airlines—in fact airline stocks are at close to their near term highs. Not that the companies themselves are profitable; they’re not. It’s only that they were so low last year (e.g., DAL from ~$7-$17, search philstock in this blog, if interested). My kvetch is  that the U.S.depends on people being able to fly, and yet there’s much more intervention in the “private” airline business than other industries, so far as I’m aware. Well I guess we’ll be seeing those blades and machetes soon (with the new ruling, search my regular blog).

On board the captain apologizes for the lateness, makes it clear it was not their fault but actually required by the FAA, and that we should all write to our representatives in Congress!