Skywest airlines does not have an agreement to fly 700 flights a day in ATL. ASA prior to the sale to SW had a contract which was modified to say that ASA would get 80% (I'm pretty sure on the percentage) of all DCI flying as long as they met certain objectives. The flying that Skywest airlines is doing in ATL is "additional flying" that Delta put up for bid. It could have gone to Xjet, SW, or ASA or Bill & Teds excellent adventure Air (my money was on them!) The only way that ASA is going away is if they fail to secure contracts with Delta or someone else. All regionals are having problems getting pilots right now......

Do you really think that if ASA shut the doors all 1700+ pilots would go apply at Skywest as $19 F.O.s?

Hell no! you would lose 500 to 600 pilots overnight who simply would not do it. They couldn't afford too. They would take non aviation jobs that paid more or go to other airlines who would go out of their way to absorb them (in part because they are an ALPA carrier)

The pilot shortage (for crap jobs, and for the records mine is a crap job) is actually putting the ASA pilots in the drivers seat.

Our management has been coming to our recurrent ground classes for months telling us that if we have worked here for more than 7 to 8 years we should be looking for a new job (Tutt and Hall). They want to get rid of us and replace us with a newer, cheaper (kool aid drinking) work force. The union response to the pilot shortage was simple. Take care of the pilots you have and you won't need to hire so many.

Stick