Leaders | Whack-a-passenger

A lack of competition explains the flaws in American aviation

Americans are treated abysmally by their airlines. They should look to Europe for lessons

DECADES ago travelling by air in America was a glamorous affair. Today it signals delays, discomfort, extra charges and the threat of violence. A video of a passenger being forcibly dragged from a United Airlines flight on April 9th, after too few people volunteered to give up their seats, has sparked an outpouring of complaints about flying in America. Passengers are right to moan. America’s airlines really do compare badly with foreign ones. European carriers are the best point of reference.

This article appeared in the Leaders section of the print edition under the headline "Whack-a-passenger"

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From the April 22nd 2017 edition

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