Why are roundtrip international flights so much more expensive when you are only staying a short time (2-3 days) in the other country?

Question

Title. Why would it matter to the airline how long you’re waiting between the two flights on a roundtrip, even when you’re scheduling both flights well in advance?

In: Economics

Answer 1

Airlines assume that if you’re buying a one-way or very short international flight, you’re probably traveling for business. Business travelers tend to not care as much about price, so they charge more. It’s also why last-minute tickets cost more, because those are usually business travelers or desperate individuals.