"but the supply and demand ratios during the 60's,70's, and 80's was even worst that it is now but the salaries saw some of the biggest gains, Why?"



That's because the airlines were regulated then, there was no real free market. The government decided routes and fares. When ALPA got a new contract the government approved higher fares to cover it. Carter signed the deregulation act in 1978, however, the effects weren't felt in force until the early and mid 80's. ie Continental, Eastern etc...

The only reason Virgin or any other airline can pay what they pay is there are pilots that will accept those wages. We live in a free country and hopefully still a free market, and even with the chaos that sometimes brings I would have it no other way.