Tony,
I have sat back and listened to your opinions about your experience in the ex pat world. I’d like to know a few things. From what I can tell your company appears to be Arik Air in Nigeria. I’d like to quote what you posted several months back, but I cannot find it now. I believe it referenced F/O pay for a CRJ 900 between 3000 and 5000 usd a month based on experience and Captain pay somewhere in the ballpark of 6000-8000. (Please correct me, I’m sure this isn’t exactly accurate)
I don’t dispute that the Asia market should be higher than the Air Mekong pay. Some other companies in the area do pay more. But I don’t believe that your company would change any of their practices based on a very small new airline in Vietnam. For all anyone knows Air Mekong will shut down in 6 months and no one will have to worry about the “the lowest CRJ contract in the world.”
I also think some slack should be given to the fact this is a start up airline and pay might be able to keep up the first year.
You are probably right that a good reason to offer the job to ASA pilots would get people for cheaper, but for many people at ASA retaining a sonority number there is important to them.
My main point is this expat world is entirely non-union. So accept the free market. If someone wants to do the job for less then too bad for them. If you have too much of a negative attitude toward someone who would take this job, go back to a company with a union and negotiate what is “fair.”
Finally, please don’t take this personal at all. I know I addressed this to you, but it’s only because you seem to be the most active on this subject. I appreciate your stories about your experiences.
Respectfully,
-JTH