Delta currently has payrates for the EMB195, EMB190 and the CRJ900 as follows:
EMB195@7 years 111.54 capt
2 years 57.35 fo
EMB190/CRJ900@ 7 years 94.89 capt
2 years 49.61 fo
Under the current contract, the permitted connection carrier types are limited to 76 seats and max gross TO wt. of 86,000 lb.
The 76 seat jets can be increased by 15 jets in 2007 and 30 jets 2008 and beyond. The total number of 70 and 76 seat jets cannot exceed 200.
Once the regional jets exceed the 15/30 in 07'/08' the remaining additional RJs can be added at a 3:1 ratio to mainline.
The 737-700 is not a 100 seat jet. The configuration will be two class approx. 126 seats. It is a niche AC for long/high alt. thin routes.
The 609 slots will be fill between Sep07 and Mar08. Some of these slots are new hire positions but most are for additional flying. Since there is a large increase in senior positions ther should be a lot of movement due to the domino effect. The 609 number has nothing directly to do with newhire numbers.
DALPA has not had a good record on the RJ growth issue. Having said that I've heard the CEO, CFO, COO, the SenVP flt.ops., MEC chairman and various other high level management types say all jets over 76 will be flown by mainline (we have the payrates). Also the 70/76 seat jets will be mostly be replacements for the 50 seaters.