Agree. I still read or hear comparing ourselves to other airlines and the paradigm is out of date as of the current. For starters we've never fully recovered from BK rates.
In the past 20 years there have been so many new jobs created. For example lets look at energy. In two decades Solar, Wind, and Electric vehicles have exploded. Think of what it take to design, produce, sell, market, and logistics with people power to make it all happen. Many great paying jobs have been created paying easily six figures and up.
There are so many great paying jobs for young adults to pursue and and pay very well and home every night.
So the question is, why are we in a shortage of pilots? Think we all know the short answer. It don't pay enough to get into it. In an industry that has proven volatile in terms of employment and many hours away from home.
It's time the whole industry ups the wages across the board. Based off of our 2000 contract I would guess a 737 captain should be pretty close to $430.00 an hour, and raises like 12/5/5 don't get us there.