Originally Posted by
shrsailplanes
Attrition dropped off a cliff when people began traveling again and mainline opened the hiring flood gates. Paying regional pilots more won’t stop them from going to mainline. The only reason most people go to a regional is to go to mainline. So, paying them more will have little effect on longevity IMO. Not in todays hiring climate.
It the pay and benefits were the same at the regionals as the mainlines a lot fewer pilots would move. Everyone is so used to regional pilots being paid so little that they naturally leave for greener pastures. The current model doesn't work. 7 years ago regionals were still starting pilots off at 23 per hour which was equivalent to about $11 per working hour. People could not afford to invest to become pilots to make 11 per hour. Now the airlines need those people who never became pilots.
I don't know exactly what the new business model will be but it will call for a lot fewer regional planes and a lot higher pay scale.