Originally Posted by
Wasatch Phantom
Serious Question (for any and all):
My nephew emailed me and asked: Do have any idea what the future of the 100-seaters is going to be? I know the Japanese and Russians are trying to re-enter the aerospace market, plus there is the new Bombardier plane. I'd imagine that there would be a decent market for planes in size between a CRJ700 & an A319?
I briefly explained the scope clause concept, and the history over the last 20 years of ever larger size, and numbers of, regional jets being operated by non-mainline carriers. But where's it go from here? Will the next negotiating team again trade larger regional jets (or more of them) for pay rates (admittedly with the approval of the Delta pilots)? Or will they (the negotiating team, and/or the MEC, and/or the Delta pilot group) hold the line on scope? Would Delta buy a 100 seat aircraft in significant numbers if it was operated by Delta pilots?
Curious as to others' thoughts...
If that is what you told him, you need to go back and correct this misinformation. Delta had UNLIMITED 70 seaters in 1990. Unlimited. And the line stayed at 70 until bankruptcy, where it went to 76. So, in reality, our scope section on 70 seaters is much TIGHTER than it was 20 years ago, and the line has only moved 6 seats in 23 years. At that rate, the regionals might see 100 seaters in another 100 years...
And for the naysayers, I'm willing to put my money where my mouth is. I'll bet anyone $100 (payable to the Delta Pilots Charitable Fund) that DALPA won't permit anything bigger than 76 in the next contract. Any takers?