Originally Posted by
CATIII
you guys are forgetting about the 1000's of highly qualified DOD / military pilots being made ... not to mention economic changes (downturns etc)... There will never be a shortage of pilots at the majors... they will simply have fewer to choose from than they did historically which is about 10 apps for every job.
You are missing the most important part of this. The regional jets bring people to the hubs so that the mainline aircraft are full. If you are not bringing 50 people from DeMoines to DFW and 75 people from Oklahoma city to Chicago, then that 767 will leave half full.
The majors NEED regionals to provide lift, or take it in-house themselves. A pilot shortage at the regionals has a huge impact on the majors.
A pilot shortage at the regionals is the same as a pilot shortage at mainline. Period.