As SLF can but agree that, some form or free-form regulation has a high probability of success.
I personally could see it as being - each airport has a take-off and landing charge - that is based say on a 50% load factor of PAX seats (forget freight for the present). Add to that a climb charge and a descent charge and a direct line miles charge (that would equate also to any loyalty program unit).
That's basically without profit - so add say 5%, 10%, 15% or whatever covers the needs for that (but here its got to be same for all).
Then build a factor from the legal minimum seat pitch (set that at say 34"), so as to have a conversion to better seat pitch and the 'upper classes'.
That's the lowest fare for a sector at a given pitch - now give it an inflation factor of say 25% to the upper fare.
If you then charge more for landings and take-off's for the ecologically worse machines - you will get 3 things happen...
[list=1][*]The gas guzzlers and loud equipment will be improved or junked - getting more modern and thus possibly safer equipment[*]The fleets will be modernised - and thus will drive the manufacturers[*]The PAX will have better than cattle-class conditions and less risk of bankrupcy[/list=1]
Prices will stay within the fork and will still be flexible. The only other solution would be to return to gvt. imposed RPM, which probably would be based on similar logic.
