The other thing that I find interesting is they seem to think they can capture the market of people that would drive. While the cost of fuel is going through the roof, currently if you plan on staying a week somewhere, you are paying as much for a hire car as the weeks accomodation. A lot of people are driving not so much because the airfares as too expensive, as so much as the hire cars are too expensive.
Perhaps this will change but still currently and remains an issue. Seems to be another elephant in the room when it comes to this area of the market.
In relation to non negotiating with airports, whilst the airlines in some places have been charged heavily, they still have a business to run as well, no point for them to have to employ more people etc if they can't pay their wages and make it worth their while. More 737s smashing into their low strength pavements isn't going to do anything for pavement wear and expensive repairs either.