The problem is they don't price flights based on cost, they price flights based on a model showing the most popular routes and recoup costs on losing flights by

The problem is they don't price flights based on cost, they price flights based on a model showing the most popular routes and recoup costs on losing flights by jacking up the price of the more popular ones. Layover flights are less popular. The issue of skiplagging is obviously the direct result of their pricing model. And I don't see a solution for them, direct flights will always be more popular than layovers, and so more in demand. They are stuck in the position of doing what they do, or dealing with demand they can't meet with by pricing based on fuel cost instead of demand.