They go in cycles. The ones growing today will be shrinking (or BK) in a few years. That's the way the system is supposed to work. You hungry pilots (most looking to build time for the majors) will work for cheap. After they've been there a few years, get tired of ramen, get married, kids, mortgages, college to save for, etc they naturally expect more money...at least more than food stamp wages. At this point the major partner shifts the flying to a new group, which can hitre young hungry pilots off the street.

As for the old pilot group? They can try to get jobs at majors, start over as an FO at another regional, or go to take a flying leap...it's all good as far as management is concerned.

The problem with this whole scheme today is that with the RJ boom there are now a lot more regional pilots than there are available mainline jobs.