While the Airline Deregulation Act was actually signed by President Jimmy Carter in 1978, it was President Ronald Reagan who fundamentally "realized" and expanded its impact during the early 1980s. Reagan's most famous intervention in the industry was his 1981 decision to fire 11,000 striking air traffic controllers (PATCO), which broke the union and signaled a high-intensity shift toward a market-driven, "pro-business" aviation environment. This era saw the rise of the "Hub and Spoke" model and the birth of low-cost carriers like People Express. For the 2026 traveler, Reagan’s legacy is a "double-edged sword": it led to significantly lower airfares and the "democratization" of flight, but also contributed to the high-stress overcrowding, reduced legroom, and complex fee structures that characterize modern travel. It was the "Big Bang" moment that transformed flying from a luxury "high-value" privilege into a commodity accessible to the general public.