Originally Posted by Stitches

I think the industry is at a critical point now where there just aren't enough guys willing to work for $20k a year to fly airplanes. The FAA wont let anyone hire a 250hr guy with a wet commercial so the supply of qualified new guys for regionals is very low. The regionals are shrinking, 50 seaters are going away, the majors are upgauging, Eagle is even offering a $5k signing bonus.



There are several thousand major pilots still on furlough and lots of regionals flying jets on (former legacy) routes over 900nm. Once guys start retiring in large numbers and the majors recall and hire its only a matter of time before the regionals shift some flying back to mainline. That is unless a fresh batch of pilots walks into the regionals enabling them to maintain the current staffing levels. If they lose people, they will in turn be forced to consolidate.