They would still be viable to continue to fly. It’s not like they would crash out of the sky and become scrap metal just because of a c. 10-17% reduction in the number of seats on a plane.

Consumer welfare is maximized when consumers can make more informed purchase decisions and do so most easily. One way for that is to have a common standard, one that could be higher than the present. .

And while a higher common minimum standard mandated by government may result in upward pressure on prices, it may also enable greater competition that actually lowers prices over time.