My airline just announced capt upgrades = to about 7% of the pilot force.

"If oil was priced on a regional basis..". We would be paying a CRAPLOAD more for oil, as we import about 40% of our oil (US).
However, with today's modern transportation system, it is easy to transport the oil from wherever to wherever, so it is globally priced, based on how much oil is produced in a set time period, and what the anticipate worldwide useage will be.

cliff
HSV