Originally Posted by
TallFlyer
I think the Big 3 first have to figure out exactly how they want to maintain regional feed first. If they continue business as usual, then I think you're exactly right, which is why some ULCCs have already established relationships with University Aviation programs that pump out 1,000 hour R-ATP students. To your other point, plenty of ULCC pilots (to include a 10 year CA) in my Legacy new hire class.
If they figure something else out, be that expanding downwards into 100 ish seat AC (220, etc), or staple, or whatever, then the Legacies will be the place to go for those same students, plus whatever ULCC pilots make the switch.
It's a crazy world out there.
I don’t see how a staple is possible:
1. There are pilots in the regionals that the legacies simply don’t want. They have issues that - to the legacy at least - are show stoppers. There are others that are doubtful at best - got their CRJ 200 type 20 years ago and have had no serious training event since that time.
2. Many of the senior people - especially some of the above - WILL invoke McCaskill Bond. The senior pilots at each of the legacy - H€||, almost ALL the pilots at most legacies - will not take the chance that they are going to lose seniority in an SLI to someone that hasn’t been able to make the jump in the last 20 years.
3. The legacies have no intention of adding four years of seniority to their new hires, which is the effect a staple would have. Not when they can hire from other legacies’ regionals, from the ULCCs and second tier majors, and from the military.
4. A lot of regional flying is only economically feasible if it can be done at current regional pay scales.