Almost all (non-government subsidised) airlines are Ponzi Schemes.
Here's an idea: Make a law that says airlines are prohibited from charging the agreed fare for a passenger until the passenger and their baggage have arrived at the booked destination. (Maybe let them charge e.g. a 10% deposit prior to the flight, which deposit does not have to be refunded in the passenger cancels within a specified period before the scheduled flight.) Then watch the fur fly...