I'm not not the FAA and I'm not in the training department. Just because you have 1600 hours doesn't necessarily mean you MEET ATP STANDARDS!

Again, that's why I say MAYBE changing the ATP minimums (1500 PIC), and requiring one to fly for ANY 121 carrier, is the answer.

Think about it. You've spent several years as a flight instructor, flying checks, towing banners or whatever to get 1500 hours of PIC time. Hell, even some of the military folks would be required to spend some coin in the civilian world to get to 1500 hours PIC. All this time equates to EXPERIENCE. Now, are you going to take that regional job below minimum wage after enduring several years of this? My guess is some will, but many will not. It creates a barrier to entry and requires that you actually fly an airplane for awhile before becoming an airline pilot.

Regionals just aren't economical without cheap labor. Get rid of cheap labor, regionals of today start to fade away. The strong will survive. They will have better work rules, pay, QOL, etc. and their route stucture will be completely different...it will be regional. The majors will recapture a good chunck of that former RJ flying that's profitable (maybe even with big RJ's at the major), which equates to more jobs at the major level...IMHO of course.