In the deregulated environment AA tripled in size and made money paying wages like these.
Oil went from $10 a barrel up to $90 a barrel and the airlines are still making money. Their costs can go up and they can still make money. But, maybe they would have to charge something more for a ticket? The AA pilots will probably not get what they ask for, but I imagine they will get more than if they went in asking to start negotiating from where they are today. More than they would get if they sent faheel or 20driver in to negotiate some new concessions.
BTW AA grew and made money at the old wages. The pilots are asking for what they made in 1992. The managers are making substantially more than they did in 92.
The wages will be going up again. And the line of guys out there who are gladly willing to sell their services for less and less seems to be a bit smaller now. It will not jut be AA asking for more. The only reason wages are where they are right now is the use of the bankruptcy courts. Now it is our turn to get some of that back.
At around $190 an hour for a 737 Captain, Southwest Airlines seems to be making money too.