Touche CC.
The ONLY reason that the narrow body clause was inserted ito the Sunnies EBA was for competitive tension when differing pilot groups EBAs are up for renewal. The "jet carrot" will always be there to entice people to stay, but i would NOT be holding my breath if I was in EAA or SSA.
IMHO, alot of lessons would have been learned over the 50 seat CRJ Kendall experience and also the Virgin E170. These smaller types are totally inefficient when compared to the efficiencies of a Q400. Oz doesn't have the population or the route structure to warrant 70 seat jet routes(Airnorth excluded) I think jets the size of the E190 and B717 will be the smallest RPT operating equipment we see in this country. Especially with capacity restraints becoming more of an issue at major airports. The only way forward is for larger aircraft to move the forecast growth of pax numbers as there are no slots available during peak times now.
Just my 2 cents worth.