Originally Posted by
24/48
Believe it or not flying is coming back to the mainline, both DAL and UAL. The last few years the UAX operation has accounted for a large number of customer complaints. DAL has already parked a bunch of RJ's and replaced them with 717's. UAL is increasing block hours on the 319/320, and 737 fleets to replace UAX flying. UAL management is actively pursuing an aircraft to bridge the gap between the E175's and the 319/737, and no we will not be giving them any relief on that.
To your second point, pilot costs are a very small percentage of the CASM. These next 5 years will be very interesting for the regionals because there simply are not enough chairs when the music stops. Mesa is a step ahead of many.
We're talking about two separate things here.
You're talking about flying being taken back by mainline, which is being done.
I'm talking about regional flying being shifted from higher costing labor groups to cheaper ones.
Here's a few examples:
Comair flying to GoJet.
American Eagle flying to PSA.
Mesa being awarded new flying. (No denying we're dirt cheap, especially compared to wholly owned Regionals.)
TSA CRJ700s to GoJet for cheaper labor costs.
ETC.