Originally Posted by
iaflyer
For the sake of all the pilots at major carriers, I hope so.
The problem is that because of the existing contracts at United, it's unlikely that they will reduce the number or size of airplanes that are permitted (I don't know how the UAL pilot's scope clause is written).
This is true...since UA has contracts (some long term) with their regionals, it would be almost impossible to immediately roll back scope to 50 seats. The pilot group would have to pay the cancellation fees out of their own pockets...basically the cost all leases and parking fees on all 70 seaters, plus a profit margin. The regionals are not going to give up profitable flying if they don't get their markup.
Plus the regionals would be killing their own golden goose...more likely they will not settle for merely expenses + a reasonable markup, they demand a ridiculous amount to walk away.
I an addition to paying off the regionals, the CALUA pilots would also have to give concessions to their own managers to incentive the scope change.
The negotiating dollar values are off the scale here.
The regional landscape immediately after the merger will be same-O, same-O....longer term, the new pilot group could try to roll back scope to 51 seats.
Originally Posted by
iaflyer
I'd be concerned that United will want to apply their scope to CAL's operation with the result being some serious layoffs and parking of airplanes on the CAL side.
They can't do that either, without the consent of the CAL pilot group.