With the industry as it is, such a huge drastic shift in the SWA business model would uproot this company. This was one reason for the language in the new CBA. Company agreed that RJ's would not work here for both cost and space issues and have no reason to add a new aircraft with lesser seats to the fleet. They looked at this before, and it just dosen't fit with this airline and the point to point network.

If the company really wanted to do this down wind, they would not have agreed to the new scope language which prevent's it.

There are plenty of good regionals out there, but unfortunatly, non of them would operate a RJ division here. It would be internal if it were to happen flown by current and future SWA pilots.

 

That's fine, I have no problem with that, heck that's better for the industry. But to come out and say everyone is snot? Wow, that's pretty lame. I expect better from all pilots. Oh this is coming from a 22 year old "snot" RJ driver.

 

I think he might have been trying to say "it's not". But it's hard to tell; that was some pretty bad writing.

 

While I have high regard for SWA management, you should never think you are immune on this subject or others. Today you have an enlightened management team, but tomorrow could be a very different day.

There are many current and retired pilots who never felt the chills of the industry would ever effect them. In the mid 1990s could anyone have imagined United filing chapter 11 when we were hiring thousands?

For your sake, I sincerely hope you are correct, but don't think it cannot ever happen to you.

Sorry If I sound like I'm "preaching", but I learned the hard way.

 

The high and mighty in this industry need to get over the moniker "regional"....Nearly all of the companies flying JETS today fly the breadth of this country not to mention operations into Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.

There was a time NOT in the far distant past when so called legacy carriers flew airplanes smaller than those these JET carriers fly today. GET OVER it... the business is changing and has been and will continue to do so well into the future.

As for SWA taking on a partner for smaller market flying.....doesnt seem plausible or to fit their model of what has been a success for them.

 

The word "Regional" has been one of my pet peeves since I got into this business 11+ years ago. There is nothing 'regional' about these jets and they have gotten bigger and better and are still called RJs. The EMB-190 is no 'Regional Jet' any more than a 737 or DC-9 is an RJ.

I fly a CRJ-200 and from the flight deck door forward there ain't much different in how it's operated over how any other jet is operated. And what kind of 'regional' flying goes from major city pairings like IAD-ATL and IAD-BOS and ORD-PIT, etc.

When I first got into this it was used to keep salaries lower and some guys attempted to even further the myth that there was some kind of ability difference between 'Regional pilots' and 'Mainline' pilots.

I digress. It all goes back to some mainline pilot groups having conceded larger and larger jets to outsourcing contracters, which is what the "Regional Airlines" are. Admittedly, it was done largely under duress of the faux sham bankruptcies. But it was done nonetheless.

To get back to the original point though, I can't really see SWA going with the EMB-190. Could be wrong. But their business model seems very strong as it is and changing that seems like a very risky proposition. Also, if for some reason they decide to go with another fleet type all that flying must be kept in house and not contracted out. That's exactly how the bar has been lowered.

I doubt they would even attempt to contract it out though.

 

Before you call XJT a dump, you might want to read our contract.......

 

Saab,

I agree with some of your points, like the fact that there is no real ability difference between 'Regional' and 'Mainline' pilots. Experience is another matter. I disagree with the fact that 'RJs' are not regional.

The big E-jets seem to be ok but as far as the -135, -145, CRJ 50 and CRJ 70; definately regional.

I'm sick of trying to get to work on one of these P.O.S. airplanes only to find that the 40 seater is weight restricted to 35, the 50 seater to 45, or the 70 seater to 64. When you can fly the thing to approaching the limit of its range with full folks and bring your carry on on board and not get rained on while boarding and not need some crazy adapter to hook up to a normal size jetway if you have one and not need to see the chiropractor after sitting in the seat less than 2 hours, THEN they won't be regional.

Just my 2cents,

your results may vary

 

Saab,

When I flew at Allegheny, we were called the commuters, at least "regional" is a step up. I won't tell you what the traveling public called the Shorts 330/360 that I used to fly in.

Tailwinds,

FF

 

The rumor I heard from some Southwest Pilots was that Skywest wouldn't be providing regional feed but that they would be entering into a codeshare agreement with Skywest operated flights. This would be to help Southwest compete against ExpressJet's branded flying so they wouldnt have to protect markets with only 737's.