Looks like RM have used the word "affordable" and cheap is the reporter's creation.
It is quite possible that even higher ACIII & ACC fares could be quite affordable for the paxs.
Any hike in ACII, ACI is a direct gain for airline operators and loss to IR, so could not be done.
Travel is already cheap for about 90% of IR paxs (non...
more... ac), which is getting cheaper day by day due to inflation, as IR desists from increasing non ac (esp unreserved) class fare.