The biggest problem IMHO with regionals is the oft unsuspecting pax who buys a ticket on major XYZ at major prices and ends up on a puddle jumper with diddly squat experience up front on a nasty night into nasty airfield. I'm not sure it is what they sign up for. OK the small print says the initial carrier can sub-lease the flight to whoever they been fit; usually the cheapest option. All are certified by the relevant XAA. However, as has been seen in EU after the Manx crash at Cork, no-one knew who the hell was in charge of looking after whom & what at any given time. It was as convoluted a snake as any major financial organisation who is trying to hide its true self. Perhaps this was also the case in the Manx scenario. It did seem someone might have been trying to not play b the rules and the rule makers lost the plot in complacency.
I once bought a ticket SOU to AMS and ended up on an excellent Scott airways F27 at a higher price than KLM jet from LHR. When I questioned the price I was told I was paying for being transported from UK to AMS, period. This was a 50 seat a/c, not a 200 seat a/c; therefore the economy of scale was in play. True, but the costs involved, i.e. salary, a/c costs, were far less than the big boys jets, but the ticket price was higher.
It is a fact in our industry that the most skilful of people do not get the best rewards. Highlands & islands is a specialised job for the skilful and they get peanuts. Mundane mega jets into major hubs is less demanding. The guys are better trained and better rewarded. Correct? an endless debate. However, the pax buys the ticket ignorant, and expects equal service. The do not get it. Various regional disasters have proved the point.
It is also the case whereby a pax buys a ticket on a local renowned career and gets subleased onto a very shaky foreign outfit. Chewing gum & string Heath Robinson under another XAA's scrutiny. The pax has blind faith in the system. How many times have the been let down?
So it is in the interest of the big boys to sublet their business to cheaper small operators. The ticket price is high, the costs are lower, profits are up. Are the XAA's really doing their job in this cut throat world?