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The challenge is that there won't be any transparency with this sort of thing. Prices for flights are so variable that you'll probably never know if it is cheaper due to the advertisement, or because of other variables.

My main issue with advertising driven models is that the company will respond to the needs of who pays them, advertisers, and not who actually uses the service. Want to juice profits? Just sell more advertising slots, make them more intrusive, etc. Delivering quality service to customers becomes a cost burden rather than a way to gain more customers.

Airlines have already come up with a way to make sure you understand what you're saving on. They'd sell you a ticket for some base price, and then extort you for extras upon online check-in. Seat choice, extra legroom, meals, etc.

That would be how it starts, but eventually the ad-free option would go away and your ticket is back to its original price + inflation

It won't get cheaper, the non-ad version will get more expensive.

Maybe, but that's not going to happen, they are going to have their cake and eat it too.