> That American made $24 billion last year without passing on anything to consumers shows that that is wrong. Pricing websites are under full control of the airlines at this point.

You misread the article. That actual quote:

> The profit bit of the picture, though, has changed a lot. Last year America’s airlines made $24 billion—more than Alphabet, the parent company of Google.

Which is a ridiculous comparison. They're seriously comparing an entire industry to one company? If anything, the complaint should be that Alphabet makes too much money.