Ten Years Ago...

COMAIR was the premier regional, having just won a great pilot contract after striking. Many of their pilots planned to stay forever.

Mesa was on the upswing (mainly due to UAL BK judge directing contracts to lowest bidder).

SkyWest was ramping up for major growth, new hires would rapidly hold RJ CA seats in desirable western domiciles.

GIA was thriving in a niche market by selling 121 first officer positions.

United, Continental, America West, US Airways, SWA, Airtran, Delta, and Northwest were all separate airlines.

Frontier was a standalone major airline. Midwest still existed.

Most major pilots were still working under lucrative pre-9/11 contracts.

Mesaba, Colgan, and Pinnacle were separate airlines.

Mesa, Colgan, and Pinnacle had not suffered industry-changing accidents during a period when major airlines experienced a fantastic safety record.

American Eagle pilots were part of AMR and had flow-through to AA.

GoJet did not exist.

I'm sure there's more...