flat-rate pay with merit-based promotions and incentive bonuses

example:

76 seat jet

All Captains $90,000
All First Officers $50,000

No seniority. No unions. Upgrades will be actual promotions based on merit, knowledge, peer recommendations, and advanced performance tracking. Pay raises or bonuses in each seat dependent upon specific airline performance metrics being met. Cost of living raises to match national average every year.

The present system in place at most any airline is archaic. There is no merit to seniority-based upgrades. There is no incentive to motivate the juvenile and unprofessional to do a good job; moreover, they have endless job protection regardless of their actions and they receive raises annually for no reason.

A new system like the one I have suggested would elevate the people that actually perform well.