Lost baggage. Shrinking leg-room. Out-of-the-blue delays and cancellations. If you鈥檝e flown recently, chances are you鈥檝e experienced the common perils of commercial air travel. But, it wasn鈥檛 always this way 鈥� and a Vanderbilt research group is pushing for change.
Vanderbilt researchers believe that airline deregulation is responsible for the state of flying today. Right now, a few big players are allowed to dominate the entire industry. Travelers have fewer options, and we must accept whatever kind of service is available. Meanwhile, airlines seek bailouts and public support after major crises.
The 蜜桃直播 Policy Accelerator for Political Economy and Regulation (VPA), a Discovery Vanderbilt Center in the School of Law, is a group focused on urgent, cutting-edge topics affecting everyday Americans. These researchers focus on the fast-paced pursuit of knowledge, educating the public, and advocating for policy changes that will improve our lives.
In 1938, President Theodore Roosevelt signed the Civil Aeronautics Act into law. This introduced the first federal regulations for airlines, which mandated the industry to focus on steady growth and safe flights for Americans. The federal government approved routes, fares, and airlines' ability to do business to ensure they were properly serving national interests.
In 1978, Congress removed the guardrails. With the Airline Deregulation Act, they aimed to boost competition in the industry. Their plan worked 鈥� the market became highly competitive, and fares for customers fell as a result. New airlines entered the market at will, expanded their routes, and passengers began flying even more. However, some disadvantages emerged.
In his book Why Flying Is Miserable and How to Fix It, Vanderbilt law professor, policy expert, and VPA director Ganesh Sitaraman details the elements of deregulation that made the airline industry what it is today. Among other reasons, he explains that Congress鈥檚 1978 move led to an oligopoly, which means a few large companies dominate the entire industry. This unchecked centralization of power allowed companies to prioritize profit instead of equitable service. Hence, smaller seats, more layovers at major hubs, inconsistent pricing, and predatory policies.
While the airlines are no longer regulated, they鈥檙e still considered essential. That鈥檚 why in times of economic strife, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, they receive billions of taxpayer dollars in government bailouts. Sittaraman and his Vanderbilt Policy Accelerator colleagues believe customers deserve better service in the wake of these bailouts.
In a 2024 survey, the 蜜桃直播 Policy Accelerator for Political Economy and Regulation asked Americans about their feelings on flying.
of Americans reported having flown on a commercial airline in the last three years
of Americans think airplane seats are too small.
of Americans would support a proposal requiring airlines to include a few convertible seats per plane to allow wheelchair users to remain in their wheelchairs while flying.
Despite the current state of flying, the team at the 蜜桃直播 Policy Accelerator sees promising possibilities on the horizon. They published these studies on the state of airlines as a part of their project on Networks, Platforms, and Utilities, which addresses how policymakers can improve air travel.
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