Sure, but they were also threatened with governmental intervention if they didn't refund their tickets (including ones bought under the non-refundable price ran

Sure, but they were also threatened with governmental intervention if they didn't refund their tickets (including ones bought under the non-refundable price range). They ended up refunding everyone, but the cash they refunded had already been used to pay for fuel, to hire and train people, to pay airport fees, etc. In a fair world, where everyone made good on their agreements, those consumers that bought non-refundable tickets wouldn't get their money back, but they did. I don't think airlines need to have all their income replaced, just that which is directly attributable to governmental intervention. If they're still in the red after that, the money should go to their creditors and then their investors. That is what we all agreed to.