The flow is a contractual provision just as payrates, min guarantee, vacation weeks etc are contractual provisions. The company could choose to ignore it just as Republic could tell its pilots it can't afford the new payrates and revert to the old payrates. But if Republic did that, what would happen? The staffing shortage would get dramatically worse as a huge exodus would ensue. The Flow is no different. They are using it as in incentive to attract applicants. Even if staffing becomes critical, there is no allowances that permits them to stop the flow. Beyond the contractual requirements, it would be foolish for them to stop the flow because doing so, even in a critical staffing situation, would make the shortage even worse as guys would bail and there would be no more incentive for new hires.

We are not yet as small as Parker wants us to be. We currently have just under 2000 pilots and their long term plan for envoy is 1500. If we have more, great and we will get more flying but until we get close to that desired number, Parker doesn't see our current compensation package as a problem. As we get closer to that number though, I think that they will start offering a Endeavor Style bonus program. One way or another though, Parker will add whatever financial incentive is necessary to staff the airline.

In an extreme case: United, Delta and AA have already shifted some of the routes formally handled by their regional feeders back to mainline in an answer to the reduced regional lift. In fact, Parker recently discussed during a public meeting about whether they will add more Embraer 190s to the mainline operation or add more Airbus 319/320s. My personal opinion is if they cannot attract enough applicants to envoy and they do not want to add any more financial incentives to attract new hires, they will allow envoy to shrink while adding more mainline aircraft which in the end, means more flow opportunities at envoy. As the flow quickens, envoy will become more attractive and the new hires will come. Eventually market forces will equal out the balance.