Guys, guys. Lets look at the facts over the last 10 or so years by and large the airline industry has been riding high on the hog with the result that inept management has gone largly unoticed. It's not just at UAL, BA, Swissair, Sabena, the list goes on and on. Many of these "leaders" have taken strong companies and turned them into houses of cards which is ok on a calm day but look out, the wind just started to blow.
What's the solution? I'd say some pretty hard decisions are going to need to be made, ones that are bound to pi55 off a lot of folks (esp pilot groups). First up, scope, in any other business you'd call it restraint of trade. Its gotta go, and it will one way or another. Trading off routes to regionals, guess what? It's going to happen.
Seniority system? A system which simply dosent exsist in most other professions. What about skill and ability? (not only that but it ties individuals to a particular company limiting their chance to develop careers). It's gotta go.
Think all the above is bollocks? OK fine, but you watch if these icons go (as well they might) their places will be taken by others...Mesa, Xair, VLM and so on and so on.. Matter of fact I might start one myself (OH NOOOOOO Guvnor moment)