Quick Links A quick look at some BEA fares The longer the route, the more expensive the flight So what's the bottom line? During the early years of commercial aviation, the experience of flying was a premium unto itself. Other, slower forms of transportation, such as railroad services and steamboats, still primarily served travelers looking for a bargain, as the costs associated with aviation prevented it from truly becoming a good available to the masses. Operating commercial flights came along with exorbitant operational costs, something which meant that air carriers, which were profit-seeking businesses, had to keep fares high to ensure that they could recoup their operating costs .
As the air travel industry developed, two different breakthroughs enabled airlines to significantly reduce per-seat operating costs, which eventually resulted in airlines having the ability to reduce fares. For starters, deregulation efforts within the aviation industry allowed airlines to offer discounted tickets to leisure travelers, which meant that they could charge significantly higher fares for business travelers, which are overwhelmingly less price-sensitive. If airlines could charge different prices for the same flight, they could innovate and offer more rewarding discounts to those willing to travel with limited flexibility or on low-demand days .
Get all the latest aviation news from Simple Flying! The second major innovation that took place was rapid technological transformation in t.
