I agree that's "good business" as Delta sees it, but this continued pressure on regional carriers will force them to seek to pay substandard wages, and ultimately result in nobody choosing to enter this career anymore.
Why borrow a six figure sum (if you can), to become an airline pilot if there's no chance of paying it back for a decade or more?
You simply cannot get good service without the availability of an adequate supply of qualified employees. The workforce, pilots in this case, just keeps getting more senior, and more expensive. Keep taking advantage of regional pilots by scare tactics such as those forced on the Pinnacle guys, and the supply dries up quickly. Disgruntled and unhappy employees never give of their best and customer service tanks.
Have you been to a station lately operated by DGS? Those that were operated very efficiently by, for example, ASA have in many cases gone through 3 pay resets this past few years as they are fired and rehired through Regional Elite, Pinnacle, and now DGS.
I arrived in Shreveport a couple of weeks ago for an overnight, and there was ONE employee doing everything! Passengers had to wait over 30 minutes for their bags, even the valet ones! Simply unacceptable.
Everyone at these stations I have spoken to is looking for a way out. They're fed up, and you cannot blame them.
The cheapest is hardly ever the best. Shortcuts are taken, and I would hate to think there may someday be a serious incident due to perhaps a maintenance oversight, or similar.
Delta may be riding high right now, but there must be a review of what's going on at the regionals and the levels of compensation paid for good service. At my company we provide very good service compared to a few years back, but get very little reward or appreciation for our efforts.
You keep talking about the majors hiring General. I would like to see that, but looks like its way off, if ever.
Have a nice weekend.
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