JetBlue achieves ultra-competitive pilot pay on Embraer 190s

[Rebel]

JetBlue achieves ultra-competitive pilot pay on Embraer 190s
Dateline: Friday July 09, 2004

JetBlue Airways' 100-seat Embraer 190s, which begin arriving next year, "will offer better cockpit/seat economics" than larger Frontier Airlines A319s, AirTran 717s and Southwest Airlines 737s, according to JP Morgan analyst Jamie Baker.

In a report released yesterday, Baker said that three-year seniority rates for JetBlue 190 captains will be $74 per hour, or $80 when adjusted for overtime. A 12-year captain on a JetBlue 190 will earn $96 including overtime, representing "a 33%" cost-per-seat advantage versus Southwest's 137-seat aircraft when adjusted for planned pilot pay increases at Southwest.

"Whereas airline pilots typically get paid more as aircraft size increases, JetBlue has established its 100-seat pay scale below that of certain 70-seat operators, an obvious competitive disadvantage for the Regional airline sector, at least initially," Baker stated.

Pay rates also will pressure regional jet operators. For example, a three-year captain on a 70-seat CRJ700 flying for Comair, a Delta Air Lines subsidiary, earns $74 per hour while captains on Horizon Air CRJ700s earn $75.

According to Baker, American Airlines "would require a 757…to approach JetBlue's cockpit/seat economics" based on planned third-quarter 2005 AA pay rates.--Perry Flint

[1 TIGHT Boeing CHIC !!!]

Are we loosing our shirts or just ensuring career longevity. Either way it sure is competitive down in the US.

My understanding is that Comair pays RJ FOs 20k/yr. Damn - what is JetBlue gonna pay?

[TTail]

In the states (or Canada for that matter), anything with the word 'Regional' attached to it, seems to automatically imply $25K or less per year to start!! Makes you proud to feel that you are a highly skilled professional in the regional market's eyes doesn't it! whip

[Panama Jack]

Are we loosing our shirts or just ensuring career longevity.

Interesting question. I think the answer is "yes." I don't believe we are doing ourselves favors though.