Protectionist wing of the government ?
The same government that allowed : Pan Am, Eastern, Braniff, Frontier etc, etc to fail doesn't seem that protectionist to me.
Granted they stepped in after 9-11 for unprecedented reason.No one flew four passenger aircraft into buildings in Europe though..
British Airways having their debt basically written off before privatisation while still being able to retain a monopoly of slots at LHR seems a little protectionist..
British Airways purchasing their Concorde's for one Pound each seems a little protectionist..
AA's reputation as cold blooded is well deserved, they did their best to kill off my airline a few years ago, that's Capitalism I suppose..