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Originally Posted by RightSeatGirl  I understand your point of view and it's logic. I really do. And I also sympathize with it. But here is some food for thought. A good percentage of the current contracts between regionals and their mainline leash holders were negotiated prior to the fuel cost spike of the last few years. Contracts bid out when Jet A was $2.50 a gallon five years ago allowed for more internal spending on everything from real creamer in the pilots lounge to flight crew pay. Now that fuel costs have skyrocketed so has everything else.
And as far as new airplanes...well...it hardly pays to pay pilots more to fly equipment that is down for maintenance more often then not. New aircraft acquisition is considered by airline management to be a higher priority then salaries. Not saying it's right or wrong, just saying how it is. You can't sell tickets on airplanes that are always broken.....And, the salary issue aside, you can't make any profit on older inefficient equipment. |
Ahh, but that is the perfect time for a ticket price increase. As the regional feeders suddenly become less profitable the revenue stream needs to be increased somehow. When (often times) you're the only show in town you can raise the ticket price! You're not competing with anyone worrying about being undercut then.
I can't speak for new airplanes vs old airplanes and efficiency. I haven't seen all the CASM numbers and fuel efficiencies of the planes doing the flying. I do know that props are cheaper to operate than jets 9 times out of 10 on a given route. If the biggest issue is the cost of fuel why continue to use a plane that's not efficient? I doubt the airlines stick with the RJs because Joe traveller prefers a jet. Matter of fact, I bet they could care less but I can only speculate. Of course, my opinion and 5 bucks will get you a coffee at Starbucks.
Planes break. Future, new, old, or ancient they all still break. Some newer break more than some older. Which level of flying do you refer to speaking of management priorities? I don't think major airline aircraft acquisitions are a sticking point against paying the pilots more.