Bonuses are a strategic method used by Airlines to bend their pilots over so they don’t actually have to pay them what they deserve as a GROUP (increased pay rates).

First, they can pull the plug on any bonus payout the second we have a Recession that creates a short term pilot surplus as we saw with Covid.

Second, they can target their specific needs without having to compensate the entire pilot group. Example: 40k bonus for New hires (dumpster fire regionals who can’t convince CFI’s to join their crappy airline), or 40k+ bonus to upgrade (SkyWest, Endeavor, Envoy, PSA, etc) so they can attempt to keep left seat retention at ease without actually having to increase wages for Captains.

We don’t have a “pilot shortage” we have a “profit shortage” specifically at the regionals in the left seat. A regional 15 year Captain makes less than a second year FO at most ULCC’s.

I cannot stand John Oliver, but this segment on “Trucker shortage” felt awfully familiar. I highly recommend you take the time to watch this. You’ll notice a lot similarities….

https://youtu.be/phieTCxQRLA