I think the bean counters will push for unmanned airplanes because it looks good on paper but they have no concept of the realities. It will be difficult to MEL items on an aircraft that needs to fly with everything working. How does an unmanned aircraft fly with auto-throttles, auto fuel systems and other "auto" systems inoperative? Stuff breaks all the time and real live human pilots take up the slack flying with numerous MEL stickers everyday! This science fiction looks great on paper but the realities are, it will cost an air carrier way more than paying a human being to fly an aircraft.

I've said for a long time, managers that are sick of working with pilots and want them out of the cockpit have yet to consider what it will be like working with a bunch of young tech and IT people:D

Manager: I need that airplane to take off at 0430 tomorrow

IT kid: What's 0430 and how come the break room is out of free breakfast burritos by the time I come in every morning?

Manager: Put your phone down and respond to that flashing red light!

IT kid: Just a minute, I'm making sure I don't break my Snapchat streak with my BFF.

Manger: You're fired.

IT kid: Fire? Where? On the aircraft I'm monitoring? This job is too stressful I quit!! I'm taking that Amazon job where I can go play ping pong when I'm stressed, this place sucks!

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