AMR has made their intention clear about returning to the whipsaw model of multiple feeders for well over a year now, so this should be of no surprise. This is only the first move of several. Interesting how the positive is spun about future hiring for Eagle is put in this communique tied along with the need for a consensual agreement. It implies Eagle pilots need only do two things for a bright future. 1. trust managements statements and 2. ratify a consensual agreement. New airplanes will be coming to the former "American Eagle" (soon to be renamed) and thus a training bubble is needed to maintain the operation. It will take several years to bring aboard the hundreds of larger RJ's AMR wants and overall, those will be spread about several carriers to ensure a balanced whipsaw model.
To make a pie, you must first support it with the crust. Today, AMR announced some of the crust and likely more crust to be included in the near future before the pie filling (large RJ's) is purchased.