Pilots have a total monopoly... in the occupation of piloting?
For US commercial airlines it is my understanding that there are effectively no non-union pilots. That's good for the pilots (higher wages), but bad for the flyers (higher ticket prices).
Pilot pay has been trending downwards for a while. It's pretty badly paid for how high-stress and high-skill it is.
sure, airlines have a choice among tens of US aircraft making companies other than Boeing... oh wait...