From this article, I take a way a perplexing dilema for all pilots.
Quotes from article:
"[As to why Majors use regionals]...Regionals’ trip cost advantage in serving these types of [short, low-density] routes results primarily from the lower salaries paid to regional airline employees, relative to the major’s own employees, and the regional employees’ more flexible work rules."
"Interestingly, competition from low-cost carriers may ultimately lead to a reduction in the cost advantages that regionals provide. As majors continue to feel pressure to lower their own costs, they will continue to renegotiate labor contracts with their unions. As they do so, the labor cost advantage that regionals possess may eventually shrink, once again causing a change in the role played by these carriers."
So regionals are viable because the pilots are cheap.
RJ pilots want more money (as they deserve) but in doing so would negate the advantage, and thereby defeat their reason for being
Ok, so lets ditch the regionals, and bring all flying under the umbrella of the Majors (an argument I see often on these boards)
Well in order to do that the overall pay & work rules of all pilots would have to come down, to at least the "low cost carrier" level, as hinted to in the last quote.
Or we could just charge more for tickets - but then LUV wouldn't and well there you go.