[chirau]

Quite the opposite. You reckon taking planes out of the skies will lower the cost flying? Supply and demand.

[nickserv]

Yes, it will likely raise prices.

My point/question is whether this will reduce air travel and increase demand for rail.

[bdcravens]

Doubtful. People will either just eat the higher costs or simply drive. The infrastructure is lacking (relative to airports), and there's unlikely to be any support for expanding it anytime soon - passing costs on to consumers is the current US culture.

[nradov]

Those airplanes aren't going to be scrapped. Demand for flights hasn't reduced much. Other airlines will buy up the airplanes and put them back into service.

[chirau]

Spirit's business model was a threat to most airlines and had forced them to lower prices. This just takes away that pressure to lower their prices.

[nradov]

Really? Spirit had a very limited route network. And Delta and United have been successfully pursuing a market strategy based more on service quality than low prices. They account for the majority of profit in the whole industry.

[RaSoJo]

I think OP meant whether this might "lower the demand" for air travel...due to the expected spike in prices