These 16 are already operating in ATL. I think DAL will want to keep that there, especially if we start removing 50's. I think this latest displacement bid out of ATL and into DTW is just a scare tactic. Same one the same manegers tried in summer of '06 when they announced the transfer of 12 700's to SKYW because we were too expensive. Tutt and Hall desperately wanted a furlough to scares us into a cheap contract. Didn't work because other airlines started hiring at rates greater than our shrinkage and we were left needing to hire. Soon as first class annouced, the transfer of aircraft "mysteriously" stopped. I expect our TA will be carefully timed with 16 900's to the ATL base.
As far as the whipsaw... sure the threat is there daily, but if it is so important, why was Skywest pilots given the exact same payrates (that we negotiated over 5 years) the following week after our approval? I'll bet you a paycheck that the same thing happens again.
Bottom line... the industry has changed from 10 years ago. There are virtually no replacement pilots at our current offering wage. Will more come if new-hire CRJ pay is $30/hr? Don't know. The majors are proving they have more to give as they are giving their own pilots 20% raises. Just because your the cheapest bid for the feed is no guarantee you can fill your classes. Full disclosure....this last thought is skewed by a bunch of qualified CRJ pilots on the street. How many ex Comair or Pinnacle pilots will apply to GoJet? I think the changes in scope have everything to do with the prediction of how many pilots there will be in the industry over the next 5 years.