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Originally Posted by FrequentFly3r
I've done my fair share of research but there's only so much you can learn about a company without actually asking someone who is going to tell you like it is. I figured this would be a good place to get some honest answers about the direction this company is heading.
Nobody REALLY knows, but unless a contract is agreed upon, the airline will continue to shrink one way or the other.
Regional airlines as a whole will shrink, the amount of airframes agreed upon in major airline scope agreements dictate that already. The question is: who will fly those planes? Right now the CRJ side at least has the 700/900 and can fly those because that is what delta wants.
But when you have a ton of 50 seat airplanes that aren't wanted, especially at the current rates they are flown for, Expressjet/Skywest INC can't continue to bid on contracts where they would lose money. Other regionals have cheaper contracts with their pilots, their bid is better and we all know mainline carriers will go to the lowest bidder. Just look at the out station personnel.
So, unless the ERJ and CRJ guys come together and work out a contract that saves Skywest INC money, little to no new contracts will be had. And as people jump ship to other regionals, it further increases the chances Expressjet will continue to shrink since those airlines that people are going to now have more pilots to fly more aircraft on new contracts. Plus majors are hiring like crazy and Expressjet will probably see close to 100 guys a month leaving for quite some time, just a guess though on that number.
This is the vicious cycle of the regional world. It truly is dog eat dog. But, you can not blame the individual pilot that jumps ship as he/she is just trying to further enhance their career/outlook/quality of life and the chance to hopefully move on to a major airline or LCC etc.
You honestly might be okay as far as keeping your job and not getting furloughed on the ERJ side, as long as guys continue to leave you will be needed as the airplanes leave and the ERJ side shrinks. But I would definitely plan on being on the bottom, on reserve for quite some time unless a contract happens and E175 flying is won. IF that were to happen, then you would see guys coming on below you to fly that airplane, and you will still see people leaving to go fly for the big boys. If that flying isn't won, the airline will be a fraction of what it is today in the coming years as planes are parked.
On the CRJ side, you will see the 200 phase out, but the 700/900 are still wanted. Again you will probably be on the bottom for quite some time unless they get more airplanes. Guys will continue to leave for other jobs but overall the CRJ side will shrink as well unless a pilot contract is attained that allows INC to bid of flying for a profit.
If you have the time to get hired at some other places I would definitely go to the interviews and think hard about it. You will be happier in the long run as movement will be better. When things are moving, pilots as a whole are much happier people. Mesa, Compass, PSA, TSA, Air Wisconsin, Skywest. Off the top of my head those airlines are getting new aircraft, new contracts and will see movement. Guys at those airlines will be leaving as well to go to majors, so even more movement. Skywest is big though and still at 8 year upgrades, but they will get flying before Expressjet does, so more stability.