Interesting idea, but how many regionals are operating under the fee-per-departure models? That is a rhetorical question, I've seen the aircraft livery in today's market
Point being, if a network carrier is handling ticketing, marketing, and all the other production costs set against a fee-per-departure contract with a regional provider - what's the incentive to pass any new fee collected to the FPD provider? I admit it would be huge to see congress force modification of an existing FPD contract, but unlikely.
The trend of network carriers negotiating contracts that require a code share agreement (i.e. revenue share) rather than fee-for-departures is the next evolution of affiliate agreements. I think the revenue share model vs. the FPD model would present a greater likelihood of this happening.
Anyway, I'm just playing devil's advocate here, I would love to see the surcharge. Hmm, 260 pax at $1 per hour for 10 hours
Also, what happens to the fee for a 16 hour flight with two complete crews?