Please prove to me that what the regionals supply is actually "cheap feed." This is possibly the biggest false term that just keeps getting kicked around on this forum.

Just because regional pilots don't make much of a paycheck doesn't mean the operation is "cheap" for who is paying for all of it, when costs and revenue are the main things you use to determine what is "cheap" or not. Add in 400% jet fuel increase in 10 years, more senior pilot groups almost everywhere, and less revenue due to less seats on RJs to support it all, and I promise, on a per-passenger cost/revenue basis it is no where near the efficiency of 130-200 seat mainline aircraft. Even at $30-$40 a barrel for fuel the role of RJs was tenuous at best. I actually have no idea how they have been allowed to continue as long as they have. Because they are expensive and inefficient.


I think they will just let all the small, expensive RJs slowly go out of the system, and replace what they have to with the cheapest possible 76-90 seat RJ or send it to mainline. If they can't staff those large RJs, then maybe they will do something. But my gut says not likely. That is the fight that's on right now. How cheap and how long term can they make the large RJ contracts. So far they are 0 for 3.