Low demand = cut capacity = lower fares to fill up few remaining planes that would probably be near empty otherwise?
Besides, once you get passengers trapped on board the plane, you can make the profit on the food/beverage sales, baggage fees, etc. USAir was projecting something like $500 million annually on ancillary revenues.
Thank goodness the TSA confiscates all the beverages at the gate, eh? We should send them a thank you note or something. Maybe we can get them to confiscate shoes next, then force passengers to buy the FAA mandated footwear before they get on the plane.