Within these two categories, airlines have a price for everyone. They offer special fares for senior citizens and government and military employees. The steepest prices are charged for fares sold at the last minute, usually to business travelers, and for fares that are changeable without penalty. To stimulate demand during slow times or on less-traveled routes, carriers also run sales, which are quickly matched by their competitors. The cheapest fares are often limited to a few seats on the most popular flights.
Airlines subsidize their leisure travelers by charging business travelers as much as possible.
The ideal market has a good mix of business and leisure travelers. In fact, the business travel market can determine where an airline flies, and how often. Las Vegas and Orlando, the nation's top two tourist destinations, have each seen a recent decrease in the number of airline seats flying into and out of their airports. Daytona Beach was served by five major airlines until Martin Marietta pulled out of the area in 1990, taking its business travel with it. Now only two airlines remain.