Unfortunately, that program will be the first thing thrown out the window. No more pilot shortage.

United regionals who operate 70/76 seat jets already have to hire furloughed United pilots. If they fail to comply, they no longer fly those aircraft for United.

yep.

and if it goes deep enough, those 76 seat jets are gone. To be reconfigured to 70 seats. That takes more $$$ out of the money cow. Money they don’t have/don’t want to spend.

Soon we will get what we wanted, all the planes owned by United will be flown by United pilots.

All ten of them?

Problem is that airlines like Republic, SkyWest and others may need to furlough so those pilots will be hired first.

wont be many regionals left when the dust settles on this one. Or ULLCs. This is reshaping the airline industry worldwide.

Read the LOA
13. While all United Express Carriers are committed to complying with the job opportunity provisions of this Letter of Agreement, adherence to these job opportunity provisions would be problematic if circumstances were such that the United Express Carrier may have to furlough pilots at the same time that they were required to hire furloughed United pilots. Should this circumstance occur, the Company and the Association agree to meet and discuss acceptable solutions to mitigate the impact of such circumstances which would be agreeable to the parties and maintain the integrity of this Letter of Agreement

Not sure ULCCs are any worse of than anyone right now.......

You’re right about the hiring not being an issue if the regional is furloughing as well, but Kirby loves outsourced rj’s and if everyone is furloughing, the regionals will probably furlough less, and recover first. I forget the exact verbiage, but the regionals have to offer a multiple of jobs for the number of 70 seat aircraft flown for United (I think that it is 5 jobs per jet). If they don’t get any takers, the obligation will have been met.

The seat reconfigurations will happen even if the regionals are furloughing.