Nick, I think you will find that in the UK, the government does exactly what industry pays it to do - just like in the US and most other countries of the world where 'democracy' means that the people with the money get to decide what happens, not the poor folks.
I would also surmise that a major reason for the low cost of aviation in the US is simply fuel prices - the same reason you have 5 litre V8s and we have 2 litre diesels.
Oh my God Sasless, you don't mean we allow Johnny Foreigner to fly in our British air do you??? I shall write to the Times.