Originally Posted by
threeighteen
I disagree. Delta B717/A220 FO pays about the same as most RJ operators are paying these days and they do just as many short legs to CHA, TYS, etc.
I'm not certain the current regional pay is sustainable, it may be a bandaid until they can sort out the way forward. If they brought 175's in house at current small jet rates, yeah that would be fine.
Originally Posted by
threeighteen
Most of the guys retiring from the mil have pensions so they aren’t really worried about that first year pay like the younger guys are.
It's not just first year... at some point post-retirement wave a new hire might spend years as a small-jet FO. Mil retirement will keep food on the table and a roof over your head but it's not a windfall. At some point those guys will take other jobs instead.
That said, I don't think recruiting mil retirees is a huge driving factor for the airlines, just a consideration.