Originally Posted by
ross9238
The whole regional model collapsing is the ideal situation that can benefit the pilots all around. Most of us at the regionals would like to see the aircraft flown at mainline and at mainline wages. Hopefully mainline scope can be tightened even further to recapture all that flying.
As someone mentioned before, I think the regional model will likely continue to exist except on a smaller scale with slightly larger aircraft. The only reason that I can think of that the regional model might not fail is the cost savings to mainline because of their existence.
If regional pilots continue to negotiate larger aircraft (even at higher rates) they will be shooting themselves in the foot by removing more mainline jobs from the picture. It's considerably easier to justify flying two EMB-170's into a location at the expense of one Boeing 737, and definitely before two EMB-190's in mainline paint.
The way I see the regional model existing is returning to EAS and small turbo-prop operations less than 50 seats. If small companies continue to offer terrible compensation for their tiny planes, those companies will struggle to fulfill contracts and eventually not be awarded the flying. The company that accurately balances a wage that will attract pilots and realistic operating costs will eventually be the ones who are gaining and retaining all the EAS business.