Yorkhunt
I agree with you completely.
In an attempt to foster competition on routes, slots at the major London airports for example have been given to newcomers to operate routes. The result of this has been, on many occasions, a reduction in the size of the aircraft on a particular route with another small aircraft of another carrier also operating the route at a similar time. The result is no benefit to the passengers (same number of seats offered) but increased congestion and delays, as well as environmental costs.
I suppose that at least it keeps pilots and controllers in a job.