I can tell you from experience that working overseas sheds a whole new light on the "spirit of cooperation" when it comes to flight & duty time. Nobody has your back. Your employer is a contractor aka "pimp", the airline wants the most they can get out of you in spite of contracts and regulations and there is zero representation. Complain about ALPA all you want. When I return, I will gladly pay my dues and participate.

I think Skywest/ASA have opened the doors to bringing the US Regional Airline business model to the rest of the world. China and the Far East are all high yield markets that don't need to "cost cut", but will adapt if handed the opportunity as ASA has done.

God help expats looking for reasons to justify the awful lifestyle if Comair throws their hat into the ring too. I doubt they are, just thought it was interesting that the Chinese came to see Comair of all regionals (since Comair's costs are so "out of line").

MakersMarc: bringing back furloughs is good (I'm one of the ones close to making the cut) but doing damage to one of the last frontiers of lucrative flying is what ASA/SkyWest have done with the Air Mekong deal and I hope that Comair isn't considering it too. As you know, flying overseas is not glamorous and the higher pay isn't as high as it sounds after factoring in the risks, lack of job security, time away from family and much more.

Anyway, I dont' want to derail our beloved thread. Just thought the Chinese delegation visit was interesting.