Think about it Cargo. 36,000 people, contractors, tourism, travel agents, hangers on of all descriptions. Could you even begin to imagine Question Time, can you imagine, the pollies running for cover, the shock jocks, the Opposition (whoever that is) the outrage, the damnation, all hell would break loose. Yes PAN AM folded, but there were plenty more US airlines to replace it, so who do you replace QF with? JQ? The Arabs? (that would go over well) Virgin? Loose Rivet Airlines? Tinkler/Reinhart/Forrest/Palmer Airlines? Not many options is there. Imagine people fronting up to the IT and no Australian airline, no QF, just a Roo with a big orange star on its arse. Take a bit of getting used to. I honestly don't think the country would accept it, no way, and the pollies know it, and thereby lies the problem.