If you believe the airlines () the number of IDBs is in the order of 0.6 per 10,000 pax, a minuscule number. They claim overbooking is necessary to keep ticket prices low and allow them to offer flexible/refundable tickets. So it seems to reason that if you ban overbooking the increase in fares to compensate would be minuscule. However, it seems many argue otherwise, that the increase in fares would be significant. Frankly, I don't see it. The numbers don't add up, even allowing for the complexities involved.

Is anyone aware of an independent academic study of this issue? It would be interesting to get a proper economic analysis by a credible, independent researcher on the table to test what the airlines and their shills are shovelling.