It is also noteworthy that some have a high volume year-round...
Pretty sure Airlifer wasn't talking about seasonal cities; I sure wasn't...
That's correct. It's called negotiating.
Too much, IMO. Nothing "structural" in the hubs, though.
by definition, Florida is seasonal and also has significant peaks between days of week and months that are larger than at other stations.
Negotiation is the process that is used in business transactions including between companies and unions where something is traded for something.
NW didn't just back off of its original demand that NW personnel would be cut in dozens of other cities.... the IAM gave something back whether you and I can remember what it was.
Again, DL's desire is that customer service does not change based on whether it is mainline or regional carrier - which is why DL is more "protective" of having mainline employees working customer-facing positions even if it involves regional carrier flights.
Below wing contracting or inhouse is related to the type of aircraft and the complexity of the operation; hubs and large stations are more complex.
Let us also not forget that DL now operates above wing and below wing functions for its regional carrier flights at several key hubs including ATL and DTW and LGA, is that correct and did I miss any?
What other carriers and at which hubs?
It also doesn't change that DL will have ramp at more cities than nearly every other airline except for WN who is trying to outsource more and more of its own ramp.
Most regional carrier operations are handled by regional carrier employees across the board.
A union didn't tell DL they should use mainline employees to work regional carrier flights at some of their largest stations and it wasn't negotiated.
DL did it because it made sense in those cities.