Free Republic

In the airline industry's dark months after the September 2001 attacks, the federal government, banks, aircraft lenders and others came forward to help, giving the wounded companies plenty of leeway in the face of extraordinary circumstances. But three years later, the benevolence is gone. In a form of tough love that is quickly spreading, these same backers are putting the clamps on the still-troubled airlines, particularly those operating under bankruptcy protection. The backers are giving chief executives at United Airlines, US Airways and ATA Airlines their marching orders: enforce strict timetables, conserve cash, reduce spending and eliminate jobs - or...

...It is taken for granted that every time the economy sours Washington will infuse the industry with enough cash to see it through the next boom-bust cycle. This bailout culture is so routine that nobody bothers discussing the fact that this hole-to-nowhere comes courtesy of lawmakers who won't tackle the regulatory and tax problems that hobble the industry. ...Last year Arizona Senator John McCain considered reintroducing his proposal to amend the Railway Labor Act to allow best-offer binding arbitration, which would encourage serious negotiation. But Republicans deemed it too politically difficult. Congress missed a similar opportunity earlier this year with...