I do believe if FAPA wasn't so concerned about seat protection and benefits above and beyond what even SWA pilots get (health insurance and a monthly stipend for life for furloughees) that maybe, just maybe Gary Kelly would have made a more competitive bid.

That said, I don't believe that a failure to come up with an SLI, doomed the sale to SWA but it sure didn't help. Ultimately Republic made an even more attractive offer.

GK predicted that F9 would be for sale again at half the price, looks like he could be right.