Seniority is a proxy for the power to make income and qol choices. It’s not just a genital size contest.

Someone who spends 21 years under 900 will have a much different career than someone who retires at 5000. Doesn’t mean 5000 is bad. But they aren’t the same

As for hiring for growth vs attrition… signs point strongly to growth, mostly for mainline absorption of regional flying. New hires for 2023 already cover MANY years of retirement. I think there’s also an element of pilot hoarding. If TWA only hires for 2023 retirements in 2023, Braniff can take every captain they can find then watch TWA scramble in 2025 when no one is left.