Don't be fooled about what capitalism is all about.....to make money. Business is a cruel mistress. Costs are everything in this business. From the corporate leadership perspective, costs must be cut to the bare minimum in order to turn a profit in this lousy industry.
Mesa is expanding and profitable, which is indeed a minor miracle in today's airline industry. That's why they have been named regional of the year. The old days of the airline industry are gone. The only way back to that era would be for the government to step in and re-regulate the industry. It sucks for airline employees, but now **CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED** near anyone can afford to fly. Instead of glorious globetrotting heroes, airline pilots will find themselves feeling more and more like bus drivers. That's a fact. Anyone who says differently is probably trying to sell you something.