I can verify your thesis unequivocally.  (i.e. driving customers away)

I currently REFUSE to fly, unless it is absolutely, absolutely necessary 
(i.e. having to get to a funeral on unexpected death of a grandparent)

If I do fly, then I fly business class whenever possible... yes I pay for the upgrade
Because I fly so infrequently, this option (while expensive) is within budget

Flying is NOT fun... a 5 hour flight to Vancouver is the equivalent of being jammed onto a stinky, over-stuffed cattle car for a 5 hour train ride from Toronto to Montreal.   For me, it ruins the entire trip to be left with a feeling of being treated worse than animals on the way to slaughter.

So... we travel less, and when we do travel, it tends to be by auto, to locations within a day or so drive from the city - much more pleasant, we can bring the luggage we choose to bring, and we can leave and arrive on our own time schedule.

I'm sure we're not the only ones who have chosen to turn away from air travel.