Delta has pay rates for the CRJ-900. They start at $70/hour for a first year FO. $70 per hour. That's 300% what the same pilot will make at a regional. It's infuriating to think how the difference goes to a regional's overhead and its CEO's pockets. Get rid of all that. I hope Republic fails and I hope all the regionals fail. The only reason they exist was because legacy pilots were too proud to fly small planes. Ironically, regionals now fly aircraft sizably comparable to a DC-9, and their routes are anything but "regional." What a twisted industry situation to inherit. Thanks ALPA, thanks old legacy pilots.

What would it cost United or Delta or American to bring regional flying in-house? Would their pilots go for it? It seems like they hate the idea of giving a seniority number to anyone they don't have to, but if the only way Republic or the regional industry can staff their aircraft is by raising pay significantly, at what point does it become more cost effective to cut the middle man and bring the flying back in-house?