Airline profits have been rising over the past several years or so[1] due to lack of competition after a long period of industry consolidation[2] and the rise o

Airline profits have been rising over the past several years or so[1] due to lack of competition after a long period of industry consolidation[2] and the rise of anti-consumer practices (extra fees, less leg room, etc). This occurring even during the period where oil prices were dropping to pretty steep lows[2]. There's plenty fat to trim, and suggestions that it has to be this way are unfounded[3] [1] - https://thepointsguy.com/2017/12/airline-profits-record-38-billion-2018/ https://thepointsguy.com/2017/12/airline-profits-record-38-b... kinda outdated, but I had problems finding reports on profitability over time. [2] - https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/011215/airline-industry-oligopoly-state.asp https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/011215/airline-indu... [3] - https://www.forbes.com/sites/christopherelliott/2018/10/07/this-is-the-real-reason-bad-airline-service-is-profitable/#1fb8a45a5db2 https://www.forbes.com/sites/christopherelliott/2018/10/07/t... - point being that airlines could offer better service, but don't because there's no financial incentive to do so. This is where regulation needs to step in to fix broken incentives.