I realize things can change in this industry on a dime. I totally get that. Heck the 717 rumor alone, if it comes true, could potentially end up rocking their world from a planning perspective even if its "growth neutral". 737 delivery schedules, more DC-9 decisions and many other variables make what they do very fluid and hard to nail down in a monthly update.

But it is simply not reasonable or credible for them to even suggest that, here and now, based on our current trajectory, that retirements aren't really a concern for 5 more years and we won't need to hire until 2015. That is just laughable, unless their current trajectory is continued significant "capacity dicipline". That may end up happening,especially with another scope sale, but the point is they do not know that now therefore to put something like that out when they did is clearly propaganda to manage expectations.

What I would guess will be next if there is a TA in the fairly near future containing scope sales will be another update or actual AE with positive movement and hiring predicated on the TA passing of course, with the direct threat that if we vote no, all this prosperity will go away and we'll go back into the dungeon until 2015.

Just not buying it and this update looks suspisciously engineered on the eve of a "they want a deal ASAP" TA with strong rumors of "creative" scope sales.