Air travel in America faces mounting crises—crashes, cancellations, rising fares, and deteriorating service. The current turbulence stems from a policy decision nearly five decades ago when the U.S. abandoned its position that regulation and investment were critical for transportation infrastructure. Airline deregulation has created a system vulnerable to market concentration and infrastructure decay.

Before 1978, the Civil Aeronautics Board regulated routes and prices, preventing monopolies while ensuring broad service. This system delivered falling fares, expanded access, and innovation. Deregulation promised competition and lower prices, but instead triggered consolidation. Airlines declared bankruptcy, merged, reduced service to smaller cities, and cut amenities. Even Alfred Kahn, a leading deregulation proponent, later admitted the risk of "monopolistic exploitation."

Today's air travel mess results from underinvestment and market concentration. Air traffic control systems need modernization, and controller shortages exacerbate safety risks. Fortress hubs dominate major airports, creating cascading cancellations during weather events. Small cities guarantee airline revenue just to maintain minimal service. The industry's vulnerability to oil shocks remains unaddressed, and proposed mergers threaten further consolidation without solving underlying structural problems.

The solution requires reviving regulation and committing to infrastructure investment. Regulated competition would ensure service to smaller cities and reduce weather-related disruptions. Government must modernize air traffic control and airport infrastructure while establishing rules to prevent excessive consolidation and junk fees. The path forward requires acknowledging that air transportation functions best with "watchful governmental supervision" rather than unbridled market forces.