Now that I’ve thought about it what I’m actually trying to ask is…
What would it take to drop flight prices 50%?
Automated flights, a change in fuel technology, 0 marketing spend, reduced maintenance?
More specifically, what is the bare bones cost to transport a human from point a to b, safely, in the same or less time it takes a flight.
1. Free fuel. Fuel is the biggest cost of flights. For domestic flights, about half the ticket cost.
2. No taxes/government mandated fees (including fuel taxes). These are the second biggest cost, and for international flights, can easily be half the ticket price, but for domestic flights, about 20% of the ticket price.
3. Free planes. Planes are the third biggest cost.
4. Free administration. The Airline bureaucracy is the fourth biggest cost.
5. Free Stewardess labor. Fifth biggest cost.
6. Free Pilots.
Saves a bit on fuel and a bunch on other costs. But people would be unhappy about it.