OK, gentle answer forthcoming!!
Lower/ more restrictive duty hours/ practices would mean an increase in the numbers of pilots needed to operate the programme. Therefore there is a cost involved. Therefore it goes against the grain of a commercial operation.
Now I for one like working for my company and want to contribute to it being an efficient operation, HOWEVER certain working practices beggar belief. E.g 3 pilot heavy crew ops without appropriate onboard rest facilities.
So Bryce, whilst I understand your point about all airlines being affected equally, each airline will only ever look at the effect on its' own operation, and any increase in cost is a very big negative.
I hoep that was gentle enough, yet informative!
