How The Airline Deregulation Act Shook Up US Aviation
President Jimmy Carter introduced the Airline Deregulation Act in 1978. Before this act, the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) regulated domestic interstate routes. The board set most of the routes, schedules, and even fares. However, the new policy gave greater freedom to carriers and helped them have better control of their operations.
Source: How The Airline Deregulation Act Shook Up US Aviation – Simple Flying