I think the system works as it should. Not flying a route should incur penalty.
Hi Joe,
I agree on that, but what I just pointed out is a double-sentence.
While the 1st one is fair, the 2nd isn't: the 2 factors described above (high RI needed for cargo + decreasing RI during heavy checks), when paired together create a 2nd-degree effect, ie, the need to rebuild the RI.
So my 8 years old routes that were just interrupted for 60 days for their D-check and that were at 90-95% LF before the check are at 30% after the check. This is not 10-15% that I need to get back, it's 2/3 of the demand.
And about 7 day schedule... please try to remember, from thread to thread, that I actually do know what 7 day scheduling is. I use it on all my planes

1400 a/c in Russia, previously, and now 900 in SIN, all on 7-D. In this very case, the simultaneous D-check on 80% of my A321F is due to the fact that all were converted at once when the conversion was made available.