Southwest Airlines in the USA consistantly ranks at the top of travelers surveys and has been profitable over the last 5 airline boom bust cycles. It is also fully unionised. It seems to me the only difference between Southwest and all the other US airlines , which are universally basket cases, ultimately has nothing to do with pilot unions. It is all about the quality, or lack there of, of the management. I think it is also intersting to note that Southwest has the highest paid narrow body pilots in the USA. Gee who would have thunk it....Stable smart management that knows what they are doing operationally, thinks in the long term, and understands the value of takeing care of their employees = long term success.