DEBATE: Should We Relax Foreign Owner Rules to Save Airlines

[Matt Molnar]

The U.S. airline industry is a few steps from ruin. Many airlines desperately need cash to stay afloat, and those in the best position to offer such assistance--foreign companies--are not allowed to participate due to protectionist rules set by the Federal government. Should these rules be relaxed to save the industry, or would allowing such investment by foreigners put our interests at risk? BusinessWeek has a piece arguing some pros and cons. What do you think?

[T-Bird76]

If a foreign company can own a US car company like Daimler owned Chrysler then there's no reason they can't own a US Airline. In many ways the car industry reflects more of our cultural and modern day heritage then the airline industry so I don't see the harm. If it means stopping the bleeding and job lose then why not?

[mirrodie]

Work a compromise.


Bring in the foreing carriers but with jobs guaranteed to US workers.

WIN WIN. :borat:

[T-Bird76]

Work a compromise.


Bring in the foreing carriers but with jobs guaranteed to US workers.

WIN WIN. :borat:

That's a lose lose and Socialism. That's what the problem is and was with many of the European airlines. You can't guarantee jobs if you can't afford to pay the workers. As I said if we allow it for the auto industry then why not the airline industry??

[Matt Molnar]

US carriers aren't even required to use US workers (and for many things they don't, like customer service call centers in India, and mechanical work outsourced to Central America), so foreign owners shouldn't be required to do so either.