The only way it will work is if they give us competitive wages and work rules, stat. They’re not going to be able to staff the place primarily with MSP locals like before, so they’ll need industry standard reserve rules, commuter policies, long call, etc. The next contract will have to be a blockbuster or people will leave in droves. In the last two months, they’ve already lost more pilots than they’ve hired, and a lot of new hires are coming here on a bet. It really could go either way.

I think the pilot group is in a good bargaining position since the company has already agreed to the Amazon flying. Hiring at the majors is going to be in full swing right about the time they want to get the Amazon birds online. OC is pushing pretty hard for a competitive contract, but he doesn’t wield the check book. I’ve also heard he’s threatened to punch out if that competitive contract doesn’t happen. Hopefully it doesn’t come to that.