Originally Posted by
bedrock
Is there a medium point for regional pay? Somewhere that is higher than now, but still less than mainline and will still make it worthwhile for mainline to outsource. I think they will try that, rather than bring it in house. They have become addicted to cheap feed and that labor flexibility (ie. whipsaw). They don't need to raise captain's pay at the regionals, just FO pay, but the union decides how any pay raise is apportioned betw. FO's and CA's. That is one reason we are seeing all these hiring bonuses. What if they start offering a 10K bonus for every new hire for each yr. completed up to yr. 4? They could easily revoke the bonus whenever they want too.
This is the big misnomer. Regional airlines are not "cheap feeds" for the majors... Once you pass through fuel, pay for Managment, Scheduling, corporate offices, a little something for shareholders and some corporate profit ( if applicable) I really don't think we are all that much "cheaper".. just something for the legacy guys to use at the negotiation table... pilots are easy to distract to $/hr... but moving people is MUCH more than pilot salaries.