Originally Posted by uboatdriver

I’m guessing fixed vs variable costs. Until you furlough, everything but fuel and per cycle (landing fees and some mx) costs are fixed. They don’t get to quit paying the lease or salaries, so might as well fly anyway with as cheap as gas is right now.

Its also likely that a mainline furlough, while eventually saving way more money, has much higher short term costs with all the training events generated by both the furlough and the eventual re-hire. Single fleet airline would be much cheaper to furlough short term, especially if PICs are right seat qualified.