Originally Posted by
CaptainNameless
They are hiring FOs, particularly if the major the FO is going to is the customer of that regional. They know if they take FOs, their regional supplier will only have to replace that FO. If they take a captain, their regional supplier will need to replace that captain AND an FO.
So, take a captain=need to find 2 more pilots. Just take and FO and only need to replace 1.
So, don't fool yourself that they're only taking the most experienced from regionals. It makes no math/staffing sense.
The only places that seem to be picking up a lot of F/O's are the lower tier majors that are seeing new hires/guys on the bottom of the list leaving for the legacies (jetBlue, Spirit, Allegiant, Virgin America, etc). In a way they are picking guys up that don't mind getting "stuck" so to speak. Absolutely great opportunity for them.
In no way does your math make sense. If one CA leaves they upgrade one F/O, and hire an F/O. There is a "training" bubble" of sorts but it doesn't necessitate hiring another pilot, certainly not a 1:1 ratio.
If what you said is true, why did my new hire class have only CA's, and half were from their regional carriers? And that number doesn't include any flows.