Insuring that large established carriers do not have an unfair advantage over new entrants continues to raise questions about competition. Labor problems, customer service issues, establishing the right fleet mix, and maximizing profits while insuring safety have been constant themes throughout the industry's history. It is worth noting another theme and one that will be understood by those who have any connection to the airline industry beyond simply taking the occasional flight. That theme, and it is evident in each chapter of this book, is that aviation is, for better or worse, different from other industries. It is more than public transportation, it is more than an incubator for technological innovation, it is more than an economic development tool used to link communities to the global economy, it is more than a source of noise, and it is more than part of the nation's national security.
Aviation is as much about the people who work in it as it is about the airports and airplanes.
Herb Kelleher of Southwest Airlines, Gordon Bethune of Continental, and Richard Branson of Virgin Atlantic remind us of the impact individual airline executives can have on the success of their own firms and air transport more generally. Lewis and his fellow contributors provide an illuminating glimpse into some of the most intriguing characters in the historical development of America's airline industry and remind us that individual leadership is still worth examining if we want to see where air transport is heading in the coming years. Scott Tarry is Associate Professor of Aviation and Public Administration in the Aviation Institute at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. His research interests include air transport administration and policy. He has served as a faculty research fellow at NASA's Langley Research Center.