I see the revenue point of view, but it makes me a little nervous to depend on the goodwill of management to share revenue with the pilots. It seems like the union negotiations have more ground to stand on.
In the end managements goal is to get customer from point A to point B for the lowest cost and highest price possible. What is stopping Virgin America from operating A320's and paying RJ wages? The only thing I can think of is fear of the pilots organizing. How many embry-riddle or ATP grads wouldn't go fly that A320 for RJ wages?
In a business that exec is paid more because the experience he/she brings allows him to make more for the company. In the airline industry the 250 hour pilot flying the 737 produces the same amount of revenue as the 5,000 FO flying the 737. This is until he makes a smoking hole in the ground, then he costs a lot.
-Jason
www.flyboulder.com