Southwest hiring info
New airplanes feel good, but to be honest, all we really care about is block hour growth. It takes more pilots to fly more block hours.
Back in the pre 9/11 world before contracts were abrogated due to force majeur the contracts included various provisions: minimum fleet count, minimum block hours, and minimum captain positions. All three of those kept the company from outsourcing too much of the operation.
Unfortunately, at least at USAir, when Rakesh Gangwal called 9/11 force Majeur - and act of God - all three of those went out the window and an armada of RJs darkened the sky.