Somewhere around 1980 and during a credit squeeze/ recession, by my recollection, CASA's predecessor allowed Ansett and TAA to cancel flights that were not close to fully booked as a temporary cost saving measure. They did this at the time by turning a blind eye to the requirement that the airline use commercially reasonable endeavors to operate their aircraft as close as possible to a fixed schedule as required by their AOC.
It was applicable if LF was below 75% or break-even. Check
your recollection file again.
On reflection this was a mistake. It was a mistake because it gave carte blanche to bean counters and management Prima Donnas to fcuk with the traveling public and infernally stupid morons like the management of Jetstar have now raised this to an art form.
No it wasn't a mistake, and under the old 2 airline system
you weren't treated like crap the way you are treated now
if flights were cancelled. Try reflecting again with a better
mirror.
At any rate I clearly remember people like you, Mr Sunfish,
screaming like buggery for deregulation, and now you have
it pal, lock stock and barrel - a silly mickey mouse domestic
airline system with an int'l one that's now going down the
road to certain mediocrity. You and bogan brides dressed in
swimsuits should put up or shut up.