Originally Posted by Carl Spackler

Your basic economic facts are only correct if you presuppose our continued shrinking as an airline. Most pilots here who are praying for hiring are hoping the hiring is to support block hour growth of the airline...not the "network", the airline. Our airline. They aren't hoping for hiring in a continually shrinking airline...which would then make your economic facts correct.

If we continue to shrink, we won't need to hire because retirements will keep us at proper pilot levels and displacements will continue. If we stagnate, we'll need to hire to replace retirees and at least the displacements should stop...but advancements will be few. Our eyes need to be kept on year over year block hour growth. It is that metric that will require hiring to both replace retirees and support airline growth. If that happens, then I'll gladly buy you the steak dinner.

Carl