"What cannot be denied however is that since
deregulation, air travel in real terms has become dramatically
cheaper for all air travellers."

Actually it can be denied- even a few years before the selloff I flew Qantas and the prices were very cheap- for BUSINESS class (few hundred return domestic).
As it stands now, costs are cut by cutting workers (hence debunking the 'maintaining workers' argument, as the whole reason the unions got involved was due to the proposal to axe 1000 jobs). Yet manages to remain at not much a different price, and often much higher (except FF membership). Not to mention plenty of shareholders have not received any revenue in years.

So, if its not about low prices, and its not about 'saving jobs', or shareholders, and if the CEO talked some gullible shareholders into giving himself a gigantic payrise a day before he cuts all services (risking the airline an costing money)- but "forgets" to block customers from buying tickets- what is it about now?

*Actually it can be denied- even a few years before the selloff I flew Qantas and the prices were very cheap- for BUSINESS class (few hundred return domestic).*

All you have proven so far Hazza, is that you have a flawed memory.

For of course before the selloff, it was Australian Airlines and
Ansett. All Qantas flights were for international flights only.
They were not allowed to carry passengers domestically.

Flying Australia to Europe is today much cheaper then it was 20 years
ago, the same with flying Perth Sydney etc. The evidence is clear,
as is your flawed memory.

Workers in the airline industry have probably increased, as with
increased affordability, so many more people are now flying. An
overseas holiday used to be a bit of a luxury, today its common
practise.

Australian consumers have been the big winners with deregulation
of the airlines, as they have with dropping tariff walls.

Your suggestion to reregulate the industry and make it Govt owned
once again, would frankly be a disaster for Australian consumers.