Originally Posted by
stimpy
Actually it became quite meaningful under COVID. Flag carriers were subsidized by their respective governments to keep certain routes active during the pandemic. Such as BA, AF, etc. flying daily or at least a few times per week to JFK. Even if there were only a dozen passengers, AF served JFK throughout the pandemic. And other key routes. I know as I flew AF on the JFK route throughout the pandemic.
There also may have been cargo on these flights that it may have been profitable for the airline to fly the route.