Originally Posted by
bedrock
. I personally, think things are so badly run at the legacies nowadays, that some relaxation of cabotage is inevitable. However, the Asian mkts will undoubtedly need more and more trained pilots too.
There are plenty of reasons to be concerned about the future of the airline industry, but being replaced by foreigners (or automation) are not among them.
- The foreign airlines generally pay better than the average US airline pilot. That's probably true for majors, and definitely true if you average the regionals into the mix.
- Scope clauses would slow cabotage even if it were legal.
- Growth in air travel in Asia will create higher demand (and pay) for Asian pilots. Why come to here to work for less when you can stay home and make more? European pilots will go to Asia before the US.
- National security interests will not lightly allow the cabotage nose under the tent. Between Air Egypt and MH, there is plenty of smoke to infer the potential for fire...and that will be a done deal if MH turns out to have been an inside job.