Why are commuter flights so expensive?

In article , Bob Gardner wrote:
Could it be because they have to file tariffs with regulatory agencies,
declaring their prices in advance?

Probably not. SouthWest airlines, at least, offers cheap last minute
fares to get the planes full. I often took advantage of this to take
trips to see friends in SLC which I otherwise would not have made.
Benefited me (cheap trip) and benefited SWA (they otherwise would have
had an empty seat).

Not surprising that the year after Sept 11, SWA were the only major to
make money. They were the only major with a clue, it seemed.

We have the same problem here with British Airways flying into Isle of
Man Ronaldsway. They charge a king's ransom especially for last minute
fares, and wonder why although traffic through the airport has increased
the last year, why their passenger loadings have fallen. I just hope
they don't wind up pulling out because they are the only airline that
does through ticketing from Ronaldsway to the US.

--
Dylan Smith, Castletown, Isle of Man
Flying: http://www.dylansmith.net
Frontier Elite Universe: http://www.alioth.net
"Maintain thine airspeed, lest the ground come up and smite thee"