Sorry Kaptain M, but I don't think you get my point.
I'm NOT trying to argue that an airline could fly without pilots.
What I AM trying to argue is that it wouldn't fly without management either.
You acknowlege the role of the aircraft/equipment purchaser in your posts. Well, I'm not going to give you any Guvnor-esque 'I'm an airline CEO' bollocks, but I do know how an airline is set up.
You need management to do all the tasks I mentioned in my first post, otherwise the airline will not fly. You I am sure are aware of bilateral agreements, slot negotiations, maintenance contracts which are all tasks for management and are CRUCIAL to the running of any airline.
An airline would be GROUNDED without management as comprehensively as it would be grounded without pilots.
In fact, if you are talking about commercial airlines, they are doubly necessary. The very definition of a commercial (as opposed to a charity) airline is one that makes money. I don't see CX making any money without routes, schedules, tickets, maintenance, training or advertising.
I repeat, you are not surplus to requirements. But running a successful airline is a team operation: no one else is either.