Ignorance and misconceptions regarding small jet scope at Delta is obviously flourishing.
1300 Mainline Pilots including yours truly were furloughed partly in response to poor strategy regarding scope in the 2002 to 2006 timeframe. Some of this was due to the disruption that a new jet on the scene caused - in the 1990s DAL and many other airlines basically had no or a very limited scope section because it was not needed. DALPA was learning on the job and there were many missteps.
DAL parked the 737 200s and only had 10 737 700s mainly for special airports. The smallest mainline aircraft was the Mad Dog at about 140 seats or whatever the configuration was back then. This is when the scope battle was being fought. DAL was authorized 70 seat RJs in limited number so the 70-140 seat market was where the battle was to be fought.
DALPA caved on 76 seaters but if I remember correctly it was when we were also giving up 42% pay, our retirements, 2 weeks of vacation, work rules galore etc. The point being, this was not a period of gains by mainline Pilots but a time when we were just trying to minimize losses and concessions. It is unrealistic to think while we were giving up everything else we would make gains in scope. We got taken to cleaners throughout our PWA via BK, the RLA, the 1113 process and the courts.
That was then what about now? We ordered the 717 around 2012 and now have C series aircraft. Small jet scope has not increased from our 76 seat give when we were giving everything.
DAL has hired over 4000 Pilots in this time and there is practically zero threat of anything over 76 seats at DCI. This was not always the case. Many thought that DCI would be flying 90 seat RJs but with the C series and the current environment this threat is practically non existent.
DALPA has lost a few small jet battles but won the war. Mainline aircraft went from 140 seat minimum size down to 110 seats with thousands of Pilots hired. RJ flying has decreased no matter what metric you use.
We have already discussed the faulty logic of arguing 50 seaters were going around anyway. They were, but at a very slow rate with plenty of multi-year contracts limiting the reduction.
Anyone concerned about small jet scope is fighting the last war. The new threat is JVs, code shares, open skies etc.
Scoop