Originally Posted by sailingfun

When you figured out the hourly rate to have pilots fly a 747 did you add in the following?

In 2004 Delta pilot costs were about 2.3 billion a year on 15 to 16 billion in total expenses. The math is pretty easy. Post merger today with the latest pay increases I understand we are around 2.5 billion (larger group, much lower pay) today with the airlines total expenses in the 27 billion range.
We deserve much higher pay and benefits. To try and state that pilot costs are a minimal expense to operate the airlines is however not the case.