Originally Posted by
Phteven
Bear with me for a second and imagine that every regional airplane currently operating under contract for their respective mainlines were to be absorbed by their major counterparts tomorrow (ENY, PDT, PSA = AA, QX=AS, 9E=DAL, etc.). All the flying continues and everyone works for a major getting better pay, better benefits, etc.
That would certainly sending people flocking to flight schools to learn to fly, lots of mil guys might retire instead of shoot for 20, lots of corporate/135 would bail for the airlines.
That's an imaginary world which makes far too many assumptions, not the least of which is that every pilot wishes to fly for an airline, or that a vast increase in airline positions or pay would mean a paradigm shift in career direction or desired direction. Airline flying is fine for some, but hardly the be-all or end all of a flying career. I know a lot of pilots, a LOT, who have absolutely no intention or desire to fly for an airline, and it has nothing to do with available positions.
Presently there are large pools of qualified applicants lined up for major airline positions. If in an imaginary, unrealistic world, the regionals began paying the same as the majors, then some of that pool would be absorbed. That's all. It's irrelevant, however, as that's not going to happen.