The game has changed, but not in the way you see it. Republic is operating 'mainline aircraft' now. Why would Republic need to keep their rates on the 190 low? There are
no other airlines that fly revenue guarantee under another airline's brand operating this aircraft. Republic is not competing with Air Wisconsin and Skywest to keep a contract with the 190's - they're competing with mainline to fly them. ExpressJet did not lose the contract and Republic got it. Midwest pilots were furloughed, and now Republic pilots are flying the same routes with similar equipment for over 60% off (when you factor in pay, insurance, retirement, and work rules).
To say an airline
"must keep an attractive bottom line" sounds to me like an endorsement for 'the race to the bottom'. Please clarify.
It has become clear that the original intent of a 'regional airline', to feed ancillary traffic from smaller communities into the hub, thereby capturing additional revenue' - this is
not what 'regional' airlines do anymore (or what any of the 'regionals' with jets do, or even large prop operators). As regionals grow, mainline shrinks -
regionals are not 'supporting mainline', they're replacing mainline! While it is most obvious in the Midwest/Republic 190 example, Commair and AE are undercutting Delta and American in just the same way now. We are pilots, not management. Essentially, we are whipsawing ourselves here. Each time a pilot group agrees to fly aircraft for less total compensation, those routes go to the lower cost operator. Republic is just the most glaring example - a 'contractor' that now carries more passengers for 2 different brands than the brand's pilots do (Midwest and Mokulele).
Republic is now operating the same EXACT equipment as mainline (and is also essentially operating as 'mainline' too for 2 brands). As such, they will be compared to mainline on equipment that they both operate. The excuse of 'we're just some lowly guys try to build time with an operator that needs to remain competitive' is no longer valid on the 190. I'd like to see a 190 only base, with a separate pay scale, and workrules, retirement and insurance that are comparable to other mainline carriers - and for all the Republic pilots, you should too. You deserve the option to make a career @ Republic, and retire there happy, rather than having to give up your seniority to go to the bottom of another carrier's list. Republic is now becoming a career airline, and, @ least on the 190, will be judged and compared to its peers, other career airlines.
At the very minimum, Republic's got to get (for the 190) old B6/US EMB 190 +5% (to account for inflation from when US/B6 got their rates), and a raise to over $2/hr per diem ($1.65 in 2003 is no $1.91 in 2009, so this is not asking much at all!). Guaranteed profit sharing or a B-plan should be included too - that's what everyone else flying 190's has. What your goal should be is current JetBlue +1%, but if you get below jetBlue's old rates, that's a concession, and unacceptable.
You guys deserve to be compensated like career pilots on the 190 (@ the VERY least). Good luck in contract negotiations!
