You are correct, this is a remarkable claim...but it seems to be the simplest explanation. Even in the face of claims to the contrary: https://m.lasvegassun.co

You are correct, this is a remarkable claim...but it seems to be the simplest explanation. Even in the face of claims to the contrary: https://m.lasvegassun.com/news/1997/nov/17/no-airline-subsidies-to-come-to-lv/ https://m.lasvegassun.com/news/1997/nov/17/no-airline-subsid... the difference between air fares to Vegas and comparable cities and the difference in hotel rates clearly shows that there is something going on. It may not be a true subsidy; perhaps the airlines found that the high volume of very price-sensitive travelers to Vegas justified thinner margins than to other cities. But the point stands that it's disingenuous to use a $43 flight to Vegas as a price point for the cost of air travel.