In the face of shrinking profit margins, ballooning cost of fuel in the foreseeable future, airlines may be forced to face the reality of flying passengers for free, paying only for fuel and airport c In the face of shrinking profit margins, ballooning cost of fuel in the foreseeable future, airlines may be forced to face the reality of flying passengers for free, paying only for fuel and airport charges to stay in business – or go bust. Recent decisions by carriers to cut flights and retrench pilots are now adding to the daily nervousness in the industry following the grounding of almost a dozen carriers on both sides of the Pacific within the last six months.