Originally Posted by
flyguy23
You may be surprised to hear, there are many F9 pilots who would prefer to go with Republic. There is a solid chance their jobs will remain intact with republic. People are crying about pay cuts, but Republic does not have a payscale for the airbus and the F9 rates would be maintained. The airbus will not be traded for 190s like many speculate. They serve markets the 190 would not do as well in. The potential is there for growth if you go with republic. The potential is there for a furlough at southwest, and given swa is already overstaffed, im guessing it won't fair well for most F9 guys/gals. However, if F9 gets a fair integration by their standards with swa, they'd be crazy not to take it.
And not only for the purpose of flight crews. If southwest buys them the entire back office will loose their jobs. RAH does not have people to sell tickets or handle customer situations directly. RAH will need that infrastructure, SWA will not.
As for Herkulesdrvr question about why he got in this business. I have been in many other businesses and its really no different. There is undercutting and job losses and labor groups battling. The biggest difference I find in this business is our ability to get this information. The web has taken it too a whole other level but we are also a group of well educated, motivated and strong willed professionals. We are looking out for ourselves and our futures and trying to steer that the best we can. Many of us are also trying to bring this profession back to a level it once was and almost unrealistically so. Keep in mind the Southwest pilot group has helped to bring things back but even though their wages are great compared to many others. Many (all) others have had to come down below those wages to compete with that company. How easily we forget.