Originally Posted by PleaseComplete

Its not as simplistic and nefarious as you make it sound.

To put it simply Company A flies between city pair A 5 times a day 7 days a week. Years after sales established the line at Company A and city pair A the line dwindles into half capacity and is no longer profitable. The flying is scaled back to two flights a day at city pair A and Company A. Marketing determines that there is a demand for city pair B on the other side of the country and writes a new contract for Company B to fly it.

Is simple supply and demand, not the evil empire of aviation management who's sole existence is to ruin your life.