Has Moment Passed on Privatizing Air Traffic Control, an Idea Backed by American and Southwest?

WASHINGTON — A contentious proposal to privatize the nation’s air traffic control system has circled in a legislative holding pattern for months, leaving major carriers like Dallas-based Southwest Airlines up in the air over one of their top priorities.Now one of Congress’ biggest boosters of the idea is heading for the exits.Rep. Bill Shuster, GOP chairman of the House transportation committee, announced this month that he will retire at the end of this term. That further clouds the prospects for an overhaul that has struggled to take off even with the backing of President Donald Trump.And partisans on both sides are taking a fresh look at the state of play.  Continue reading...