Originally Posted by
Rocketman
The key, as anything in an capitalist market, will come down to offer and demand. The pilot shortage will bring higher pay. How much higher can the regionals afford to pay the pilots, I guess it depends how much money they can get for a ticket, and how much passengers are willing to pay for air travel. Offer and demand.
Your right, supply and demand is an important attribute of Capitalism. Unfortunately, supply and demand DOES NOT apply to pilot wages. Supply and demand applies to the flight time in which airlines hire. Look back through the history of the profession, wages vs. pilot supply, no relationship exists. Airline pilot pay has always been based upon what the unions could negoiate.
Having said that, if pilots come together and use their brains, a lot of leverage can be generated from the current situation.