Originally Posted by
Shootinstr8
With the reduction in domestic travel coupled with high fuel cost Majors will shed their domestic lift for lucrative international routes. This would force regionals to serve that domestic carriage. From 50-mega 100+ seat aircraft would replace gas guzzling older 737s, DC-9s and MD-88s.
Most of the domestic lift is already being provided by regionals. That is why we are seeing the turmoil in the regional sector. This is where the reductions are. Plus, how do you propose getting around the scope clauses which keep the regionals from operating over 76 seats? It is cheaper for the majors to just cut back the regional lift in a market and replace it with one or two flights a day on larger gauge.
If you really want to see some carnage in the regional market, wait til the majors quit paying for the gas and make the regional pay ifor it instead.
I do agree though that the SKWY and ASA pilots need to work together to keep management from playing both groups.