Disclaimer: I'm young and extremely naive.

Why would Republic pilots talk about "get more flying?" Aren't they technically a major since they own F9? Another thing I don't get about this industry: why would DAL (or UAL or US Airways) give more flying to airlines like SKW? SKW flies for every legacy out there except AA. Don't the managers realize they're giving money to a airline that can potentially take that money and finance the purchase of aircraft or additional routes for another airline?

What I'm asking is, couldn't SKW/ASA/PNCL etc take money from one major and use it to whipsaw someone else at another major? Or is the whipsaw really what it's all about?