Originally Posted by
Bucking Bar
A couple of thoughts. Airlines do hold back pilots (and are doing it as we write this with Endeavor and Compass) to prevent service disruptions at the express carrier. At ASA the call used to be made requesting that Delta stop hiring Line Check Airman if Delta expected ASA to be able to fly Delta's schedule.
It brings up an interesting question maybe Mesabah can answer ... if the Compass and Endeavor pilots are held back, when do they get their seniority date? Does Delta give them a Delta number before class? If they are held back, do they lose seniority, or do they have concurrent seniority?
CPZ holdbacks get an incredible deal. They get a number on day one of their virtual "class date" and show up usually 90 days later with 1/4 probation complete, 1/4 of "first year pay" already done at their previous senior RJ captain rates, and during periods of heavy hiring like now in many categories go straight to a line, bypassing the honor and the glory that is narrowbody reserve.
As for your ASA example, to any extent that's true, the other airlines would have to also participate for it to be true collusion. If anything, they would want to hire away those pilots, so it would take one heck of an industry wide effort that would pale in comparison to capacity dicipline. I don't think high time regional check airmen are having much of a problem getting hired right now, or in the future.