On the conference call?

Yes. He also said they're still hiring with 2 CRJ classes per month until mid summer.

Intersting. I guess new flying is on the way

Or at least they hope, either that or he is pretty confident that new flying is gonna happen. Being over staffed by 40 pilots while still hiring 2 classes a month through the summer is interesting. (I'm assuming most of this is on the CRJ side)

I suppose in this current environment it's better to be overstuffed than to be understaffed like most regionals.

He confirmed the rumor that we'll be hiring street captains this year.

Why? Not enough F/Os with 1,000 121? Does that mean upgrade time time will drop to as soon as you have 1,000 121 you'll be in the left seat?

Hiring around 200 more FO's and now street captains? With no new flying announced. Something is up, I can think of 3 reasons why perhaps. 1. Getting the next round of EJets. 2. Those new CRJ orders were by Mesa. 3. The Delta flying is for sure going to happen.

Or maybe I am cray cray?

No you're not. Hopefully something is announced. But JO could be saving the announcement for when th pilot supply starts running thin

United announced the first 30 EJets going to Mesa the morning after a very large new hire class all showed up for their first day. At the time, UAL was cancelling flights left and right at Republic b/c of staffing, particularly on the Q400.

In this environment, regionals who are filling classes--and regionals who can say "hey look we have +40 pilots on our list and +30 pilots on reserve in this base, with 200 guys in the pipeline"--those regionals get the new planes.

The legacies aren't concerned with staffing their own operation, however when it comes to regional feed, I am firmly convinced that having fully-subscribed new hire classes and even surplus pilots on the books are massive advantages for a regional to secure new flying.

Hate on JO all you want, but the man is insanely smart when it comes to business--he's pitching the fact that our classes are full to our mainline partners, and playing on their fears of understaffed regionals causing network disruptions, and it's working out well for him (if not our payrates).