I remember years ago reading about new engines for aircraft that had propellers externally.they were radically shaped like impellers on turbochargers.they were able to propel aircraft at speeds approaching jets, but were still slower. they were however much more fuel efficient.if an airplane flies slower , drag is reduced and fuel consumption is reduced.obviously, there are tradeoffs such as flight time etc.so the question should be are we willing to fly longer for less expensive flights? since most people probably want flights to be shorter , i don't think that's much of an option.maybe the real solution is the airlines should all raise their prices ,and congress should let them without bitching about collusion etc.It seems pretty obvious that if fuel doubles that airfares should go up. i don't see why taxpayers should bail out the airlines. some will fail, others can then raise prices and carry on. the consumer will have to pay more and stop whining.you don't have a right to a cheap vacation, or any vacation, as people are discovering.