Over the past twenty years air fares in Europe have fallen steadily. New entrant airlines such as Ryanair and Easyjet have become the largest passenger airlines in Europe, old national airlines have become commercialised and staff productivity of airlines and airports now compete. The reason behind these changes was the change in policy from protecting national airlines to market competition. This book documents a dramatic change in the economic policy surrounding the low-cost airlines and the airport industry as a whole.

In this fascinating monograph, Dr Barrett provides a full deregulation case study from market control by national airlines through regulatory capture of governments to the transformed competitive market today. The topics covered include the deregulation of Europe’s busiest route – London to Dublin, the market entry of Ryanair and its sustainability, the outlook for full service airlines, the commercialisation of national airlines and the impact of airports on competing airlines.

Through a discussion of controversial issues such as the regulation capture of government by protected airlines, the dominance of producers over consumers in protected markets and the costs of protectionism in aviation to the wider economy, Dr Barrett’s book will be of interest to anyone involved in the airline business, as well as to wider public or competition policy-makers.