Originally Posted by
LostMedic
So if you have been in the airline industry for 50 years, does that mean you were part of this entire race to the bottom? Being part of the B-scale then us here in the regional C-scale. So NAI is doing the exact same thing, where was ALPA back then? I am just wondering so fight this because it hurts the big boys, but bury us when it makes you more money. If you have never worked in the regionals that you set up to screw anyone behind you, I have to say you don't have much of an input that the regional guys are going to listen to. Living on food stamps after a very large loan, and being lied to by the industry that you are now stuck in. I am ok, as I am in a better position to bear this than most. But yeah, you are not going to get much sympathy on the regional forums over this.
So that'd be over 50 years now (for me).
And Yes, I guess that means I've been a part of it.
I (we) never intended the industry to evolve in this manner.
Deregulation took us workin' stiffs by surprise.
It was touted as the panacea by our government and "we" had no reason to doubt them at the time because so few of us could really envision an airline industry that had to be also a "successful business" let alone a profitable one.
It was not part of our knowledge base.
What has transpired since is no less than a complete dysfunctional catastrophe.
Deregulation was full of ideals and promises; a veritable fantasy land of airlines and airplanes and routes to everywhere for everybody.
All it has ever truly done is leave a path of destruction in its wake that has been the final resting place of airlines and employees and service.
In other words the industry never had a chance after that; so you can delve in to all the nooks and cranny's that have surfaced since for some blame but you're not digging deep enough.
But Oh Yeh, we did get Southwest Airlines out of the deal, so I guess that makes everything alright.