Fellow Pilots,
If something isn't done to correct the situation eventually market forces will prevail in the
failure of additional airlines. It is my personal belief that Frontier Airlines will not emerge
from Chapter 11 Bankruptcy. I also believe that there will be more to follow. Eventually the market will correct itself but at what cost? The system is already running at full capacity and is straining at every seam. If something, possibly such as I am proposing, isn't done about the problem the cost's to the Industry will be insurmountable and the US consumer will feel the pain that will be exponentially higher than that of which I am proposing. Initially load factors would drop as the consumer adjusts to paying $1500 for a round-trip coast to coast ticket, but the higher fair would enable the carriers to post a profit with a MUCH lower load factor. The US consumer has adjusted quite easily to $3+ per gallon fuel, $4 per gallon milk,$3 per loaf of bread and $400,000 homes: They will adjust to increased airfares as well.
Fly Safe!
I see one major problem with your position. The US consumer has not easily adjusted to $3+ gas, $400K homes, etc. They are being bled dry. The typical family of 4 will not pay $6,000 in airfare alone for a vacation across the country. For every dollar that you raise ticket prices, there will be a certain number of travelers who will not be able to afford the flight.
Increased ticket prices will result in reduced load and an excess number of seats. The end result will be the same. Carriers will go of business.