All captains have been recalled from ExTO. 500 FO's remain out for the time being, though likely not for very long.
Big order for MAX 7's. Sure, some -700's will be retired, but I sincerely doubt it'll go 1 for 1. Gary is not the one who likes to cede market share. It's been rather interesting watching us expand into places that the legacies have historically only flown RJ's to. Thanks to our scope, all this flying is done by the SWAPA pilots, not the cheapest outsourced labor in our colors.
Big questions:
1) ETOPS incurs a 6-month lock and upgrading into ETOPS ties you down for 6 months. How many guys will commute from the East Coast or the Midwest if we're in the upgrade swing to get locked to the West Coast for 6 months vs. wait until they can hold a non-ETOPS slot so they can come back? I could see people coming to Lance on the West Coast, but not sure if they'd take straight upgrade. What says the peanut gallery?
2) Will Eeyore upgrade in less than 10 years on the property?