Would DOT plan help passengers or public?

Re “Closing the ‘open skies,’ ” editorial, April 12

Your assertion that a U.S. Department of Transportation proposal to allow foreign control of U.S. airlines is necessary to supply capital for the airline industry simply isn’t borne out by the facts. Airlines as diverse as United, US Airways and Aloha Airlines have found ample domestic capital to fund their exits from bankruptcy.

Not only is the DOT’s proposal unnecessary, it could be harmful to the U.S. It would allow foreign interests to control core economic and operational aspects of U.S. airlines, such as fleet planning, route structure and pricing.

If, for example, Lufthansa were to gain control of United’s operations, it could limit United to serving only the less lucrative domestic U.S. markets, leaving the German carrier to fly the highly profitable international routes.

It is not at all clear that the DOT’s proposal would benefit passengers or the American public. However, if any change in the rules governing foreign control of airlines is to be made, it should come only after a full debate by Congress -- the body that made the rules in the first place.

CAPT. MARK BATHURST

Chairman, United Chapter of the

Air Lines Pilots Assn.

Fallbrook