Hey pals, that just isn't the case. No 100 seaters for DCI or any regional flying for a mainline. Why is that? Mainlines are becoming profitable, and that means less bargaining power at the negotiating table. When things were down and Chap 11 was being thrown in our faces, then scope became more lax, and regionals gained more 76 seaters. Well, that period is over for SKW and other regionals. Now, 50 seaters are being parked, props are being parked, oil is still relatively high which is bad for regionals who now pay their own bills, new FAA hiring rules will make costs go up, new rest and fatigue rules will make regionals more inefficient, CAL and UAL MECs exerting pressure on UAL management to stop outsourcing, etc.... Yes, regionals are trying to buy each other to become "super regionals", but there will still be 4 or 5 big players, and they will go against each other to fight for any feed at the majors. If they try to go their own way a la Independence Air, they will die like them too. Not a lot of options, other than eventual downsizing and focusing on 2 or 3 core relationships, and hope the mainline pilots don't bargain regional contracts away. It's all what you negotiate, and guess what? Times are a lot better than before, and that can only mean bad things for certain groups. Are you one of them? Remember, you don't negotiate for your flying, mainline pilots do. It's all about a contract between the mainline pilots and mainline management. You are feed, and a contractor.
And Freebrd, you may want to re-read the article above. It's not as positive and you spin it.
But other than all of that, YOU GUYS ARE ALL FANTASTIC. REALLY, TOP NOTCH DUDES. HAVE A HAPPY THANKSGIVING, and if you have time tonight, do something nice for someone or something, like throwing turkey scraps to that mountain cougar outside your house. Yes, it might not be smart, but that cougar is hungry too, and he'll be thankful no doubt! See ya!
Bye Bye---General Lee