The flow is a wonderful thing though long term you are wrong about the requirements to flow. Even the first group that has less restrictions still has to meet with the approval of DL instructors, examiners, Line Check pilots, Line Captains to remain with DL. If all of those people sign off that a guy should be at DL, that’s surely more meaningful than a 30 minute conversation with a panel.

I believe the DL and 9E unions have suggested the aircraft being brought up to mainline. The two tiered system was created in the first place when mainline pilots traded dollars for scope, or failed to contemplate scope. It seems like DL has been moving in the opposite direction for a while, bringing flying back to mainline and that’s pretty cool. I think we agree there’s little point in keeping the aircraft on a separate airline if doing so does not creating a savings on labor costs.

As to complaints, its more like, these guys are getting hired at other airlines, and its not presently worth it to stay at “the JV airline” (as you childishly deride it). You can laugh at them all you want but they’re getting hired at every Legacy, major, LCC and freighter. The newer guys just starting out have to make a choice where to go too. You can stamp your feat and tell them not to complain about anything but they’re just going to go elsewhere if the offer is not competitive.

So True!!!!

It pains me to see Delta - apparently - deliberately running this ship aground like they did with Comair.

Any rationale as to why this is happening?

Section 6 meetings at Delta. Low ball 9E, give yall
nothing, and they can’t use $100 at a regional to give them 40%+ increase and keep it at 20%. If you increase to match Mesa and go to $100, and they offer DL a 20% increase, that would be about $108. How would they go over with DALPA? Yup, bad. Keep 9E low, and they can low ball DL pilots. Then continue to sell “delta culture” like regionals sell “family atmosphere ”. Deltas hiring spree isn’t nearly as bad as what needs to happen at AA. They aren’t as desperate. And as of now they’re still content on giving away scope to Virgin, Air France and KLM

Sooo, once DAL gets a new contract, EDV could get some parity back if it's not already dead...?

Nah. Then, it'll be, "look at these rates that you'll get when you flow! TFAYD"

I do think there's at least some chance of that, but seems like mainline Delta might be looking at shrinking as well, so I'm not sure quite what they're thinking long term for any of this...

That’s absolutely untrue.

50 seaters gone next year across the board according to Delta Town Hall. And Delta hiring to slow down next summer.

When Delta is getting rid of the 200s and shrinking the airline, why would they give us anything? They're saving tens of millions of dollars every month by not giving us a raise. The reality is they don't have to right now. They won't until the market forces them to. Then they'll run around with their hair on fire looking for an extinguisher.

The reality is there is no reason to apply or stay here unless you REALLY like flying NYC for 70% less than your regional peers. Positive space will be gone in a month, so commuting will suck even worse than it does now. Who knows , maybe new hires like ice cream and mystery meat.