We are facing a future where, for better of for worse, the nature of national identiy will begin to shift- which will force goverments to face up to more liberalised views on the aviation industry. In the US for every Congressman Orberstar (MN) there is a legisilator like Kay Bailey Hutchinson (TX).

We must lobby our legislators to understand that it is time to view the airline industry in a less protectionist manner, and understand that foreign ownership is not a series of dirty words- but rather an inevitable consequence of our new global reality.

The JAL question is an interesting case in point. While the Japanese have some of the most strict ownership laws in the world, and for better of for worse will most likely not take the foreign carriers support. Then we have the long-burning question of AA/BA in the US and UK, and also VS/VX ownership challenges in the US.