Originally Posted by
Mercyful Fate
As far as management, pilot, janitor, lav dumper goes, lets just say I have no horse in the SKW and DL race. None of it impacts me either way. Both could vanish and it doesn't change my situation at all....
Yes, DL did have a problem with the UAL code share deal so you are dead wrong about that. That caused a massive shift on how the business model changed between majors and regionals. There is a reason those regionals like Comair and ACA no longer exist, and SKW is in the position it is. There is another reason why regionals that once puddled around in 19 seat Metro's are flying 76 seat jets in these partnerships, and that is because it is a give and take between pilot groups and management. I don't need to remind you how this happened, or how it will continue to happen in the future, because no matter what you say...you know. You guys folded like a shirt when it came to bigger equipment than the 50 seat RJs, and you will fold again. Mark my words, it will happen.
Mark my words: you will never get your scope jets. Sorry bro. I know you think all trends continue forever. If that were true, then SKYW will become the new airline world order and fly every plane for every airline in existence. All trends continue, right? Every time you takeoff, you are accelerating at a rapid rate and will go super sonic in a matter of minutes! Oh wait, there's reality. The same reality that will prevent SKYW from becoming what you want it to become.
So you're either a very senior/lifer pilot or a manager at SKYW. That's cool. I assure you your counterparts at CMR, ACA and other places had ambitions every bit as lofty as yours. So far we are several contracts deep into the "hold the line" mentality on your upper end. IMO the only relief you'll see is if you shrink to fly fewer RJ's already in your allowed range at the expense of more on the lower end. IOW you will have to shrink to get even that.
SKYW was hardly a revolutionary with their UAL deal. Other regionals operated for more than one partner. I know you think JA is the dominant genius of the industry; many thought the same about CMR and ACA managers as well. But I agree that he is smart. Smart enough to know that his ambitions stop here, and he's better off taking his guaranteed profits and staying in his place.