DoNoHarm

You answered your own question. The pilots are already there. They just happen to work for SkyWest now.

SkyWest is expensive. Once AA starts taking its own flying back in the form of WO, and Delta/Endeavor starts doing the same, what will happen?

SkyWest is a huge airline that is going to have a hard time succeeding without continuous growth. Remember the ridiculously long upgrade times and times on reserve at SkyWest a few years ago? What happens when SkyWest stops growing and starts shrinking?

knewyork

I just don’t find that realistic. Just my opinion.

MKUltra

As a pay for departure contract flyer, they are handcuffed by the contracts and costs are fixed. Profit margins are razor thin. Therefore as labor costs for mechanics and pilots exponentially increase, contract companies have to go renegotiate contracts in order to increase bonuses or salary.

Hence the lackluster pay raises at skywest and I expect the future republic contract to go the same way. There just isn't much money in the business model to move around. The model only works as costs are fixed. Right now, labor costs are exponentially increasing. What will happen when these regionals are going to be forced to pay for pilot initial training?

American, delta and United allowed republic to go into bankruptcy before they renegotiated contract terms. During said time republic was canceling allot of flights that severely damaged the flag carrier Now all three own a majority of republic. Negotiating pilots salary for republic is going to be a slow process as none of the big three are going to allow the rest of their feed or wholly owned to be injured as labor would shift. The RAA is doing their best to keep the keel even for everyone, but with the endeavor contract now all bets are off right now. American wholly owns will follow shortly, and lastly commutair and awac will follow. Republic and sky west will be unable to react.

As the market dictates, the three legacies are building up companies they heavily invest in themselves, United = commutair, awac; delta = endeavor; American = PDT, PSA, Envoy. At no point do I see the big three investing heavily in a carrier that would help their competitor. For example, American renegotiating contracts with Sky West, this would benefit delta and united. Same example for republic, mesa, etc.

The big three rescued republic last year because they had to. The big three are taking big steps to rid themselves on the reliance of pay for departure contract carriers. Especially carriers that fly for their competitor.

JediCheese

CommutAir is already paying $54 an hour for FOs that have been on property for ~15 months (1 year from IOE completion or 1 year + 90 days from DOH if no training failures or leaves of absence). They did it to stem the bleeding of trained FOs. And first year pay is about standard, but is offset by a $22k signing bonus (2 year commitment).

Also right now they don't have the training resources to hire everyone they would like because of the Dash to Jet transition that is occurring. There are rumors of a late stocking stuffer come late Jan or Feb when the Dash guys are emptying from the training pipeline.