Not necessarilly. Maybe WRT the AK/KLM JV that could be correct, but at least WRT the FT/DT regs I don't think we can say that yet.

Many think the company will be chomping at the bit to get 2 pilots ops for 9 block hours and 3 pilot ops one hour over the current limit for 4.

But that hinges around a provision in the new rules that eliminate the "legal to start legal to finish" aspect of that one rule. IOW, it becomes a hard time, projected at throttle up, or a gate return must occur. Not only does this make 8:59 2 pilot ops a risk, it makes 8:01 pilot ops a risk. Assuming the average for 8-9 hour 2 pilot ops would be 8:30, that means that, on average, any 30 minute delay would cause a gate return and possible cancellation or massive re-crew delay. They will spend far more money on that than they will save axing the number of FO positions on the 8-9 hour only flights, not to mention the hits to the operation and subsequent follow on costs. There may be a few 8:03 turns they would like to have and would be willing to carry the risks, especially if they were multipile leg hub to hub days where they could recrew easier, but we would obviously want something for that, so what we wanted, even if minimal, would likely blow the cost savings of that tiny rarely used benefit out of the water in the first place.

As for the 8-9 hour 2 crew ops, the potential savings is minimal and the inherent costs and risks are steep and statistically guaranteed. I just don't see the company eager to come to the negotiating table and give us anything to get something they, after careful review, would likely not really even want.