Most airline national policies are carry-overs from Keynesian influenced economic theory evolving from Lenin of all-folks. The premise is that the 'nation' should retain control over the 'commanding heights' of an economy; industries (national airlines, coal/steel, rail transportation, telephone companies) should remain wards of the state. As well, the 'state' was usually the only entity capable of raising the capital necessary to finance such 'heights.' America had a perversion to this. While the government rarely got involved in owning such business' the regulation surrounding those industries provided the same result. i.e. British Airways being owned by the british government, v.s. the U.S. government creating the CAB and keeping AA/DL/NW/PA/UA pretty much healthy and for PA & NW, the US' ambassadors to the world. Of course, the last twenty years have seen a dismantling of this concept, but remnants remain including America's (and Canada's) airline ownership clauses. Matthew On Tuesday, August 19, 2003, at 08:18 PM, David MR wrote: > How many other countries allow their airlines and companies to be > foreign > owned? I know Australia allows the UK to have "foreign" airline > ownership > but isn't Australia and the UK both part of the UK? > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Grant McKenzie" <gjmck@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> > To: <AIRLINE@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> > Sent: Tuesday, August 19, 2003 20:01 > Subject: Re: [AIRLINE] Branson is coming > > >> So much for free enterprise and an open market. >> >> Grant >> SYD >> QF >> Not a fan of xenophobia