Originally Posted by Excargodog

Indeed. They seem to be far more worried about protecting their international wide body flying from cabotage and incursions by their own strategic alliance partners than stopping 76 seat flying. And it makes sense.



Their bottom of the payscale aircraft is the 757 at $91FO and $260CA an hour to start and tops out at 186/283 whereas their top payscale is the 787 topping out at 240/352 and that with very favorable contract terms allowing a lot of hours for pay with relatively few legs and duty time. And unlike their narrow body numbers that are protected by scope, there is nothing protecting their 140 aircraft wide body fleet - the largest of any US airline - from incursion by their own strategic partners. Especially since newer more efficient aircraft - even ones like the A220 - have the range to do it.



Rather than actually flying EWR to Glasgow in their own aircraft with US pilots, United could just offer their US gates and servicing for many of the overseas flights and take advantage through their partners of cheaper foreign crews. Nothing in their current CBA actually forbids that. It would totally be within the UAL pilot groups interest to lock out that possibility. Especially their more senior pilots who either have or aspire to those jobs.



Similarly, having Mana as a flowdown place for the junior pilots in the event of furlough would be desirable. More fuel efficient and longer range jets may be a game changer. Moxy airlines might put serious pressure on the hub and spoke model and economic downturns inevitably happen. Getting furloughed at United a decade ago was devastating for some people. You had return rights, but United wasn’t hiring and places that were wanted you to give up your seniority (and with it return rights) at your original company before they would hire you. The ability to flow down to a job at a UA regional while keeping your UA seniority is not to be underestimated.



So as the man said, never say never. 76 scope - up to what Delta already has - is a salable option. It may not come to pass, but it isn’t out of the question by any means.



Of course, that doesn’t necessarily mean a deal WILL get done and even then done in time to help Compass. Time will tell.