eli5: How are airline companies profit margins so thin?

Question

Theres like 5 companies in the US that handle ALL the flights. How do they still have thin profit margins despite being the only options?

Edit: spelling

In: 72

Answer 1

Regulations… Flying is worse today than it was in the 70s, there’s a clear market need for better travel, but that’s not in the states best interest… So it must remain, slow, expensive and feel like cattle being forced into a pen