Yes, I do. I also think they'll get fair wages for Frontier, also.

RAH pilots know they are underpaid (FOs especially). They know their contract is weak in many areas. They also know their growth has pretty much stopped, and they'll likely start contracting even after this M&A activity. Additionally, RAH pilots have known many folks in the airline business don't like them (mostly regional pilots), but with the info from the last two days they've now they've got a gazillion-watt spotlight shining on them, with everybody in the industry watching.

Many pilots (especially the FOs!) at RAH know the growth and fast upgrades are over. They know Bedford wants out of the 50 seat business; they've known it for some time. They also know with each 70+ seat airplane flown by them is one fewer airplane providing jobs at a major airline.

Don't get me wrong, I'm sure there are some tools over there that are jumping for joy and salivating about flying an Airbus, and probably an idiot or two there screaming "staple" like a drunken idiot.

But this time, unlike 2003, RAH pilots have all the leverage in the world - the ability to destroy shareholder value in RAH, the one thing Bedford seems to worship as much as God. And they'll have a bunch of ****ed-off Midwest and Frontier pilots, if willing, to help them exercise that leverage for all its worth.

Yes, I have faith that RAH pilots will get a fair wage for the E190 airframe, and that there won't be pilots flying Airbusses around lower than the current F9 rates. Will the E190 wage match current book MEH or Jetblue? I don't know...but there is no reason whatsoever to not get rates in line with their narrowbody peers for the larger airframes (and a corresponding raise down the line).

For better or worse, many current RAH pilots will end their airline careers at RAH pilots...and I think more know that than are willing to admit it. As such, they've no reason whatsoever to accept anything less than a fair CBA.