You're making the mistake of thinking that pilot pay plays a significant role in costs. Our RJ competitors pay much lower than that, yet their CASM is higher on many routes than ours.

Carl

Lots of RJ CA's get paid much more then 60K. Some regional FO's who work the contract make that. In my single year as an RJ CA I made 75K, on 3rd year longevity. Many regional CA's are in the 7-10+ year longevity range. Outsourcing to regionals costs more because contracts often require the Major to pay for fuel, gates, mx, training costs, etc. This makes the contract expensive.

A simple codeshare does not cost those things. Outsourcing to Volaris saves SWA $$$. Just like how they outsource their heavy MX to San Salvador. They don't need to spend money on route authority, gates, gate agents, or ground personnel. They don't even have to pay outsourced ground handling, because it isn't their flight.

02-13-2012, 04:50 PM

#88932

DAL 88 Driver

At home on the maddog!

Joined APC: Mar 2009

Position: ATL MD-88A

Posts: 2,874

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carl Spackler

You're making the mistake of thinking that pilot pay plays a significant role in costs. Our RJ competitors pay much lower than that, yet their CASM is higher on many routes than ours.

Carl

Exactly. And don't forget the "cost" of lost revenue as we drive away customers with a substandard product.

02-13-2012, 04:54 PM

#88933

Scoop

Moderator

Joined APC: Dec 2007

Position: DAL 330

Posts: 6,930

LAX 16 Meeting

Any Left Coasters going to the council 16 meeting tomorrow?

Scoop

02-13-2012, 05:09 PM

#88934

JungleBus

Gets Weekends Off

Joined APC: Sep 2007

Position: B737 CA

Posts: 1,518

I see we're talking outsourcing again so I'll add a little fuel to the fire. Overworked DC9 and MD80 guys, here's my current trip that could be yours, if only the E175 "RJ" was flown in-house.

Day 1: MSP-MDW-MSP-BZN. 15 hour overnight in Bozeman eating free hotwings and drinking $3 Moose Drool.
Day 2: BZN-SLC-SNA. Done by 9:30am, 20 hour overnight in sunny Orange County CA.
Day 3: SNA-SLC-YVR. In by 1pm, 17 hours in Vancouver BC hanging out at the Flying Beaver.
Day 4: YVR-MSP-ORD-MSP. Back in time for most commuters to catch their ride home. That 1200nm leg from YVR to MSP is sure "regional," eh?

But hey, DALPA has no interest in recapturing this flying. Really, what mainline pilot would want to lower themselves to this??