Although I have come to sympathize with the "damage" JO's Go! operation has done to the "home grown" airlines in Hawaii, I think you need to be very careful distinguishing between the pilot group and the actions of the airline.
There is nothing Mesa pilots could have done to hinder this operation, short of a "work action", which is utterly illegal. This is not the first time other carriers have whined about Mesa pilots, instead of pointing the finger at Mesa management.
- Mesa pilots called "scabs" when they flew CRJ's into Cincinnati during the Comair strike (hint: they didn't fly Delta or Delta routes at the time)
- Mesa pilots were called "scabs" when they flew DHC-8's into CLT when CCAir was acquired and shut down
- Mesa pilots are called "scabs", or neo-scabs anyway, for flying routes in Hawaii.
For the first two instances, ALPA reps were consulted regarding the feasibility of Mesa pilots refusing to fly said routes and work, and both times they were told that ALPA would not back "work actions" against what was legal behavior on behalf of the airline.
It's very easy to ask another pilot group to fight your battles. Resist the temptation and fight your own.
Which, the Hawaiian and Aloha pilots certainly have.
They've done a marvelous job making Mesa choke on this ill-conceived Hawaiian plan. $100 million dollar judgment and more on the way . . . and yet still some persist in blaming the Mesa pilots.
What would you have them do?
