Originally Posted by
Bill Lumberg
Too expensive. How would that be created? Pilots from mainline, but what about the FA's and mechanics? What about the rampers? Would Delta have to purchase new aircraft? What about the sims?
The problem is we already know that regional feed is very cheap, and it's getting cheaper because management continues to lower the payout for each new regional contract. United does it too. Colgan had to give up the Dash-8-400s because United wanted to lower the payments, and Colgan couldn't afford it. COLGAN! So, Republic took them. Same with the Delta regionals. And any management team and board of directors will tell you profits allow the airline to keep flying. It would be just too costly, and very complex.
Do you even hear yourself?
'Regional feed is very cheap and getting cheaper'.
'Mainline is too expensive'.
Of course managment is going to keep taking more of the flying from YOU (mainline) and giving it to the regionals. They are just taking it a little bit at a time (whenever you allow it) and you hardly even miss it.
The trouble is that you have given away (sold actually) any reason for Delta to even have a domestic mainline operation (and hence a job for most of you). A little at a time you have given it all to the regionals. If you keep giving it away,
all domestic flying (and quite alot of international) will be done by the regionals.
It is ruining the profession of being an airline pilot. Most of the jobs are low paying and poor work rules (compared to the
'too expensive' mainline jobs). A large percentage of current regional pilots will be lifetime career regional pilots, simply because that it where the jobs are (because of your vote). And those that do make it to a major, will be stagnated at the bottom (because most of the jobs and growth are at the
'cheaper' regional).