Originally Posted by
FlyASA
Going forward ALPA needs to be focused on protecting scope and more importantly doing something about codeshares. What's to stop the majors in Skyteam, One World, and Star Alliance from code sharing with RAH on domestic flights? I doubt Tilton, Arpey, Anderson, Parker, or Smisek (well soon at least) care if RAH operates their domestic flights as long as they get a share of the money. The majors operate the international stuff and regionals do the domestic stuff in ever bigger "RJs" (C-Series anyone?) or just flat out operating A320s (like RAH/F9 will be) or 737s. It's the perfect way for them to whipsaw their own unions and combat the LCCs.
The lack of negative response out of the CEOs of majors against RAH makes me wonder if something is up. RAH is using the money from their lucrative fee for departure contracts to compete against their "partners." Why aren't these CEOs angry, they are funding their own competition!
ALPA is most concerned with protecting their revenue stream. Even if they were to become agressive now, I believe it's far too late.
The more large RJ's that fly outside the control of majors, the more pressure on them to compete. They know the potential of these aircraft, but the lions share of their economics depend on regional scale labor costs, so their choice is join or run.
My guess is they'll have to join.