Express will no longer be a career. It will be high turnover job with a certain niche employee. Older , kids grown , probably the last job right before retirement.
While I personally don’t think this is the right move because of almost the reasons listed above.
No one wants to work at ground, the turnover rate in my area was extremely high. People want benefits , 401 k , sick days , vacations. They want things to build to as the years go by.
Now they just get more work and Fred S has put all his eggs in a unappreciative worker basket.
Time will tell.