Gentlemen, a reality check.
If you want to make a profit doing shorthaul from now on in Europe, you have got to follow the low cost business model. You can still do shorthaul/full service, but the days of profit making in that area are over - period.
The only way that "Big Airlines" are going to be able to offer "Full Service" shorthaul flights is by subsidising the losses from profits that they make with their longhaul fleets - and that will rely on their yield.
Those who criticise the Low Fares operators are either deluding themselves that maybe we'll all go bust and then the "proper" airlines can cheerfully return to the days of ripping off the general public, or they have their own agenda - like maybe they didn't get offered a job?
I will admit there is a big difference between the established carriers and the new wave - our companies are making a profit because they're run by hard nosed bean counters. Big Airlines? They've got a great future behind them!
Cheers, Max
