SOBs were taboo in 1965
Leatherboy:
If American Air went belly-up the physics of the marketplace would not allow a vacuum. Don't know how old you are, but Eastern Air jumped into the South American market when Braniff (the first incarnation) went bust. Likewise, United filled the same space when Eastern collapsed. In another example, almost all of the former Pan Am routes are now operated by United or Delta.
As to cargo: You are, doubtless, aware that cargo, compared to your average coach customer, brings in, comparitively, more revenue. Passenger carrying airlines will not calmly stand by and allow UPS and Fedex to lock-up ALL the cargo action.
Meaningful government intervention will, almost certainly, force the demise of US Airways, Spirit, and possibly even American and United.
* To weed-out the misfits, cabin and gate crews should be licensed in the same sense that cockpit crews are. A badge, with the given license number, and prominently shown, would be worn, with penalties for those who fail to wear the badge, or try to hide the number.
* Minimum seat pitch of 35" for flights of 90 minutes and longer.
* Minimum seat width: 18" (most airlines, to my understanding, are already within this range)
* Children, under the age of 16, who are travelling with an adult, must be seated NEXT to said adult. No more spreading families all over the aircraft. This is a dangerous practice if an evacuation were to take place.
* Connecting times must take into account situations where the two given gates are 1+ miles apart.
* Tarmac delays: Passengers to be offered the option to safely disembark after two hours.
* Foreign control of US-based carriers PERMITTED following a review, and approval, by Transportation and Homeland Security (FBI.)
I could go on, even more. But you get the idea. As you can see, I'm not talking about chateaubriand, or in-flight manicures. With the exception of the foreign ownership, and id badges, we're, really, talking about going "back to the future"--circa 1965!
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