US airlines are pushing to remove protections for passengers and add more fees

The airline industry is a good example of an "open" market that is really anything but. It is effectively an state-supported oligopoly. Airlines have split up every major market, usually with very little competition amongst themselves, and then have a government bailout backstop if things go wrong (this include things like favorable bankruptcy laws that let them get out of wage commitments). This is without even getting into the unholy public-private airport situation.

The answer is actual competition with some reasonable passenger protections.

Let foreign carriers compete here (9th freedom rights). No bailouts for failed operations or even unusual circumstances like covid.

> The answer is actual competition with some reasonable passenger protections.

This is physically impossible. Airplanes require airports and airports only have so much space they can dedicate to flights.

An extreme example of this is the Ronald Reagan airport. How could you possibly get more competition there when it cannot grow and it's surrounded by the urban area?

That's like saying the solution to your water company monopoly is more competition. You can't bury more water lines for different companies. Someone has to own the existing lines.

Fiber optics is getting multiple providers in several markets, if not many. They do bury/lift multiple lines, even in more rural areas.

I think the biggest issue with airlines is they act as only an airline. The first company to realize they are a transportation company and can get you door to door will be great.

E.g. an airline that can seamlessly get you to/from the airport via a local premium/private transit line that can get you to your home or destination.