Originally Posted by
N1234
As for flows, I can easily see those backfire in a couple of years. If hiring at the majors really picks up as everyone expects it to there will be a real incentive for AA to reduce flow from the regionals. Why canabalize your regional pilot pool if you can hire of the street from "competitors"?
Flows serve one purpose only - lock-in. Once you put in 3, 4 or 5 years you will think twice to jump ship or rather hang on for that coveted flow. If pilots truly become a rare commodity it won't matter anyway.
AA has 11 ( ELEVEN ) regionals providing lift for them. There are no regionals they can hire from without "canabalizing" their regional lift. The flow isn't some side promise from AA. Its a contractual item, they have no choice to decide to just stop it. Just as a company wouldn't just say, "Hey, lets not send out the paychecks this week" they can't just decide to stop the flow. Endeavor is offering $20K yearly bonuses, RAH is offering decent wages, and envoy is offering the flow. If either of those companies stop offering their particular "incentive" regardless of the reason, their staffing situation will get worse very quickly. To speculate that AA would stop their flow because of staffing shows that you haven't given the matter much thought. A good comparison would be when a student pilot might start pitching up from best glide while practicing an engine out maneuver thinking that they can stretch the glide to make the field. On the surface, its sounds reasonable but when you really look at the overriding laws of nature, you realize that such a course is a fatal mistake. Fortunately, the Executives at AAG have a better understanding of the pilot HR economics and would never make such a foolish mistake. Expect to see greater financial incentives offered in addition to the flow as envoy's staffing becomes "critical".