Rumors, guesses and forecasts for the regional industry.

My company (YX) has halted all new FO classes until Q3 2022, and are struggling with having more FOs than CAs. As a result, FO's aren't flying and some are struggling to consolidate, giving them a greater incentive to leave ASAP. CAs will leave as soon as they have their PIC time and get the call. So the majors (and to a lesser extent LCCs) are cannibalizing the regional workforce as it becomes less necessary to have PIC time. I don't really see the CA/FO numbers balancing out, if anything both sides will keep shrinking.

How many other regionals are struggling with the same issue? Most, if not all I figure. The WOs will be fine, maybe they'll get stapled on to the bottom of their majors, maybe not. What about the rest of us? Will one major buy us out? We're owned by all 3 majors, no controlling owner that I'm aware of. Either makes us stronger or puts us at a triple disadvantage depending on how you see it. I've asked everyone I fly with what they think will happen, they all think the regionals will "go away" but most are unsure what that will look like, especially for the non-WO's. If I was moving on I wouldn't care but I'd really like to stay if there's a future here.

So, give me your best guesses, specific or general, as to what's going to happen to the regionals as a whole, or what might happen at your company.