Another reason is to be cleaning up their balance sheet and taking goodwill write-offs now in the preparation for a acquisition/merger that may or may not include a wholly owned subsidiary. Solves possible integration issues down the road as well.

Mesaba,

Becoming an "exclusive" DCI carrier would lead credence to becoming wholly owned though.

*Also note when Colgan is being shut down, and the expeditious manner they are being parked as well.