Originally Posted by
saab2000
I think he's partly right. It all depends upon whether or not the mainline pilots are willing to hold the line on scope or even try to tighten it up in the face of probable gains in other areas in their contracts. The managements badly want relaxation of scope. The pilots want to tighten it. But management will undoubtedly offer some pretty big carrots for further relaxation.
The pilots will, however, have greater leverage in future contract negotiations.
I can't recall too many instances in the last 20 years where mainline pilots have "held the line". They've consistantly allowed it to erode in most every area of their livlelyhoods and now it's too late to stop 100 seat or less scope. ALPA's become a dues collection agency and couldn't defend their own parking spaces in herndon.
Oh, there will be a limit like 737-800's, but EMB-175/CRJ-900 sized aircraft are already lost. The 190 looks like it will be the domestic codeshare bird flown by cheap labor with managements eventually finding new ways to outsource. It's an ever continuing erosion that flows at different rates, but it's undeniable. Barring a SOS by all mainline pilot groups, the 100 seat or less fight (along with about 65% of the domestic market) is already lost.
Unfortunate it is.