Originally Posted by mdot

The vast majority of PPs were hired at American Eagle Airlines, the largest regional in the world, and the only one doing AA's regional flying. We had an 18 year contract in place that was very competitive. We had 7 bases, and in 2010-2011 we were hiring like crazy. It was somewhat similar to how you talk about a 2016-hire in terms of this being a decent place to be. Enter BK and the USAir takeover and even in the face of (very real) threats to "Comair" us, we still said no to concessions. PSA comes along and stabs us in the back, and we suffer 5 base closures, a concessionary contract, airplanes going to PSA, and a whole bunch of stuff that saw a 3,300 strong pilot group whither down to around 1800 or so.

This is all around the time Pinnacle voted in one of the worst contracts imaginable. The world was a much different place, and we did what we could to make it through the rough times. But this industry is cyclical. We'll see if you're right about that 2016-hire come the next downturn. But something tells me they too will "demonstrate a willingness to accept the worst", if god forbid this industry even vaguely resembles what it did just 6 or 7 years ago.