Originally Posted by
rickair7777
Can't be ruled out entirely but there are some significant hurdles which will not be overcome anytime soon...
1. Labor and their associated politicians will not sit still for this. It simply could not happen in the current political environment.
2. Public Perception. This is weak but #1 will play up #3 and #4, and probably get the general public to oppose cabotage.
3. National Security.
4. Safety. This could be a real concern...if they are cheap enough to undercut us in our own domain, they might not have exemplary safety standards.
Agreed about the hurdles, but I suspect we'll see cabotage sooner rather than later, especially if the the pro-business party regains the White House and Congress.
While you make many good points, a few comments on them:
1. The pro-labor politicians are not as strong nor as prevalent as needed in order to stop a move by global corporations towards cabotage.
2. The Public wants to fly First Class in a 777 from Tupelo to Peoria direct for $99 and a free hotel night coupon. What they want and what they will settle for on Orbitz are two different things.
3. If it came down to it, I could see the US government subsidizing a national airline (singular) for national security reasons but that day is a long way away, if ever arriving. There are plenty of airlines in the USA for government contracting. It would take more than a couple of them going Tango Uniform before any government officials would bat an eye about national security concerns.
4. Americans want price first. Sure, safety standards will be applied just like they are to Mexican 18-wheelers northbound on I-35 under NAFTA.
Originally Posted by
rickair7777
I suspect that we will not see true domestic cabotage, but eventually all international flying will done under code-share by the lowest-cost airlines...this will be bad for US and European crews.
Agreed on this likelihood. However, the lessons of whipsawing and "competitive" pricing shouldn't be lost on any union pilot. All it takes is one or two foreign carriers flitting through the USA under modern cabotage rules to put pressure on the domestic pilot livelihood.
Originally Posted by
rickair7777
Well there's a big difference between colgan and the majors...the majors at least still pay a living wage that you can support a family on, maybe not in style, but at least vital needs and basic amenities. Also their regular workdays are not as abuse-filled as bottom-feeder regional pilots.
You are missing my point. First, by referring to them as "bottom-feeder" pilots the "Us" and "Them" attitude continues. This attitude works in management's favor, not ours.
The days of major airline pilots looking down their noses at FLAPs has resulted in what we see presently in our industry.
The real culprit here is the Airline Deregulation Act. If pilots don't hang together, then, like Ben Franklin said, "we shall most assuredly hang separately."
Pilots blaming pilots have done nothing except waste time and making a few pilots feel better about themselves. Meanwhile, it's management raking in the bonuses and its pilots who are taking the hits in pay, benefits and quality of life.