All true, however, we are kidding ourselves if we think the "RJ" outsourcing issue is in the process of magically fixing itself. The 50 seaters are dropping off like flies, but the company is very, very much in love with the 70 and 76 seaters. Many of these planes are common type with existing 100-118 seater aircraft. Regionals that we outsource to operate that common type...while we do not. That is a massive threat to the profession and we would be wise to realize just how serious that threat is, both now and come C12K time. That is why, IMO, scope reversal to some degree needs to occur, because the existing scope is a drag chute on our profession the likes of which we have not nearly seen yet.

In addition to that, some regionals we outsource to already have inked firm orders for semi-next gen 100ish seaters and others already operate 100 seaters in different paint of the common types that we pay them to fly for us in the slightly smaller seat variants. That is also a massive threat under our existing unacceptable outsourcing handouts.

Yes, average gauge may be going up. There may be a resurgance of mainline flights to some cities that were previously dominated by RJ's. Great. But very, very soon our smallest plane will be a nominal amount of 130ish seaters and a ton of 150 seaters, and nothing else until we get to the outsourced 76 seaters, which are common types to what we allow to be outsourced up to almost 120 seats. The 50 seater issue is indeed solving itself, but the "RJ issue" is far, far from over. That battle will be fought well within this decade and our position had better be strong because we are being flanked big time, all the while being told to "watch the birdie" on hourly pay rates.