The Scope Clause: The Obscure Rule Shaping US Regional Aviation

A little-known provision buried in airline labor agreements—the “scope clause”—is shaping US regional aviation as much as fleet decisions and pilot availability. It’s not an FAA rule, but a collective bargaining term negotiated between mainline carriers and pilot unions at airlines including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines. The clause restricts how much flying can be outsourced to regional partners, aiming to prevent work from shifting from higher-paid mainline pilots to lower-paid regional crews. One headline limit caps regional aircraft at 76 seats and 86,000 lb maximum takeoff weight, along with caps on the number of regional aircraft and their share of flying.