I agree with having a ATP being the minimum requirement to fly for the airlines. It makes sense for safety. I also think it would drive up first officer pay. It's supply and demand. How many guys with ATPs are available for the airlines to hire vs guys with 250 hours? Once the airlines get hiring again I think they would have to raise pay to compete for new hires with ATPs.

When I was a new hire in 1998 the average new hire had 1000-2000 hours and had lots of previous experience flight instructing, flying charter, flying checks, etc. When I was a new hire again in 2008 the average new hire had 300 hours and had just got out of flight school and (maybe) had done a very short stint as an instructor at his school. There were a few outliers (me, a couple military guys, a charter guy), but the vast majority recently seem to be in the 250-500 hour niehborhood.

Of course, I'm sure I'm biased in my opinion.