Its used on relatively short sectors,
Well Cairns - Darwin is around 2:35. Alice - Darwin is about 2:00. Alice - Perth is about 3:10. Perth - Broome is about 2:30.
the 717s will still have a higher toilet to customer ratio than the 737 fleet which operate on much longer sectors
I guess you mean
lower ratio? For example 1:3 is a lower ratio than 1:5.
738 with 180 pax has three toilets so a ratio of 1:60. 717 will be 1:62
Either way I think you have missed the original point. This increase in pax numbers with the consequential reduced seat pitch and less cabin crew and toilet is being sold as an ENHANCEMENT to the customer service experience. This is indefensible as a piece of logic. You are comparing absolute levels between fleets.