Jetnut
Are you for real or are you just baiting us?
Time and time again governments have recognised the need for a state owned airline operation. It is of economic necessity, no matter what certain ill-informed individuals might think, the basic survival of a nation is based on its ability to sustain an infrastructure
So which Governments have recognised this and which Governments have proven record of running successful state-owned airlines in the 21st century. Do please enlighten us........who have you got in mind Swiss, Sabena, Alitalia
Aviation is of strategic importance but the potential of business is only truly liberated when creative and entrenpenurial talent is left to get on with competing for business and taking commercial risks. A generalisation here: who are the kinds of people that work for the government? - those in need of security, those who are risk averse, it is not the mindset you will find at the heart of successful business. In other words civil servants do not run airlines.
Regarding the US carriers I agree up to some point. But that doesn't make their chapter 11 laws right? The US is massively guilty over double standards with regard to free-trade and those who preach free trade with one hand are always beholden to beef farmers in Texas or steel workers in Pittsburgh. Cast your mind back and look at the boom that followed deregulation of the US domestic market in the late 70s and then tell me that free-trade isn't a good thing for aviation.