My 2 cents: Its simply a case of Musical Chairs ! This was expected after the world cup, new possibilities and careers at greener grass. Normally the grass is greener because there's more sh&#.
But hey, when in heavens name are pilots going to realize that the airlines are not the alpha and omega ! Well, for one in SA and the USA definitely, flying a Lear or Hawker or citation or in some cases even a proper prop job for more than a feeder airline captains salary aint bad !
Perhaps the media, Hollywood and the flying schools are the big culprits. youngsters see the "glamour" of a smartly dressed individual walking through a airport with sexy hosties following in hot pursuit!
Flying schools are the biggest culprit, spin money by selling a image, just walk past any flying school and see the blokes hang out there with bars down their skinny arms, shoulders so broad they cannot walk through the door ! These clowns end up in the airlines with a huge attitude and expect the Hollywood Picture, then reality strikes, hard work for little pay, plastic bread and muffins for crew meals, nasty hosties and then the bitching start !
Airlines ? really, is it the Alpha and Omega ! There are a lot of fun to be had and great flying outside the Airlines, and guess what, often for more money and a better lifestyle! But Nooooooooo we want the Hollywood Picture, the mentality created by the flying school, no wonder we are getting the standard of instructors we have in the airlines, it turns into just one big flying school ! Never moved away from that mentality due to the lack of interest to see and experience what else Aviation has to offer but Airlines ! These companies are often run by real business people and treat you like adults, you learn to see the bigger picture.
But Noooooooo, lets join the airlines and bitch about our crew meals, hosties, salaries, schedules and JVJ ! Come on guys flying is fun and a great place to be ! Stick together, no matter where we are, we are Brothers and Sisters and the Musical Chairs game will always be there !
If some bloke with big kahunas start a Company and offer us the job, its our choice to be there, or else we all would have owned companies and the competition would have killed us all !
The trick is to find your happy place in aviation !