Ever so slowly the above operators will just take back some of the routes operated by Cobham 717's over time if the parameters are right.
Not necessarily. This is all about creating as much competition for operation of your product as possible. It is the easiest way of keeping down costs and especially labour costs. If one company's pilots organise a good payrise the work just goes to next cheapest, the work dries up and the pilots have to now work for the operator who has the work available and so they surrender their long service leave/sick leave etc and have to start from scratch for the cheaper provider.
You create as many suppliers to your brand as possible who then compete amongst each other for your business.
It has already happened in the US and that's how guys ended up flying jets claiming food stamps.
However this system doesn't work when there is a shortage of labour.
If anyone has read the new Virgin agreement you will see their job security clause and career progression clause. Virgin are doing the best to protect their pilots from the industry and each other IMO
Not really they have 4 AOC's whom 3 will be branded as Virgin. Same idea really where they go with it is up to the management. Would not be hard to shuffle aircraft over to the Skywest AOC or for Tiger to takeover particular routes etc