LOCO fallacy
It's my experience that as judge says the public have been duped on a massive scale to think that loco's have actually made much of a dent on airline fare levels. Sure for a handful of people who don't want to take bags and plan their trips in advance you can buy tickets cheaper than ever but for the majority who like more than a change of underwear and a toothbrush when they travel and like to book at the drop of a hat I think fares are often extortionate.
My wife had the misfortune to need a ticket home from Cork to London at short notice the other week. Ryanair wanted £340 for ORK-STN for an adult and a 4 year old one way. I could fly them to New York on BA for that and they'd enjoy assigned seating a nice meal or two, a free bar and great service!
I booked them back Aer Lingus for £190 incidentally, but frankly I'd have paid anything not to put them on a Ryanair flight with their crews many of whom can't seem to understand English to comprehend ATC instructions (as I witnessed under London control the other night) and their use of poorly photocopied approach and departure plates plus the risk my wife would have ended up sitting seperately to our 4 year old.
Desk-pilot