Originally Posted by
Alan Shore
True, but costs to operate RJ's is going up one way or the other. Either the majors will pay more for the lift so that regional carriers can pay their pilots more, or majors will begin to operate such aircraft themselves at a higher cost. To the extent that this is the only way to continue to operate RJs long-term, each major carrier will face this dilemma and find its own way to realize the added costs or face a reduction or total loss of the ability to offer RJ service.
True but bring that to the mainline and all your costs not just pilots go up. I know the forum experts can cost this out in their heads and prove it's cheaper but airline managements world wide have also costed it out over and over and always come up with a different answer.
Regardless if you want to bring this flying to the mainline you don't merge those airlines. You sunset the contracts and transfer the aircraft. Much simpler and cheaper.