MilesBuzz! - BA boss wants end to "protectionism"

British Airways Chief Executive Rod Eddington today urged governments to help pull the aviation industry out of a ``time warp'' of regulation and protectionism.

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/020417/nyw031_1.html

I think it's interesting that the one airline that has benefitted most and encouraged government protectionism over the last 20 years is the one crying for change!

The US/UK air agreement is one of the most restrictive in the world, and attemps to liberalize have been thwarted when the UK gov't acted on the interests of BA. And now they want and end to it? Something stinks here...

In other words, he wants to be able to collude with AA without regulators forcing him to surrender LHR slots so new entrants can compete with him.

This is tripe.

The comment on "foriegn ownership" is interesting. I think that he's attempting to tie access to LHR with allowing him or any other competitor to buy up any US airline. Once the USA removes this barrier to free competition then it'll all get fairer.

JW

I agree, codesharing and alliances have only emboldened these carrier. The markets they can dominate and eliminate true competition in are the only thing that matters. BA should have been able to buy a controlling interest in USAir years ago. Foreign ownership restrictions in this industry are as outdated as the buggy whip!