Had the same argument from an employer (flying club) over 20 years ago, aircraft rates could, and did go up with increases in maintenance costs and fuel prices. But it was impossible to give me a pay rise as the resultant 5% increase in flying costs would lead to financial collapse.
Strangely, people accepted price increases resulting from other factors, but supposedly would not accept an increase to pay staff more.
Sad to see after decades and thousands of miles between countries, attitudes like this still persist.
