Pinnacle used to make money, what an asinine comment. Pinnacle made money because their pilots served in a 1999 contract from the amendable date in May 2005 all the way to Feb 2011. The huge labor savings really padded their bottom line, enough so they could go and buy more airlines and more airplanes for those airlines. Plus, you can't compare the 2000's era regional contracts that were FFD, where it didn't matter if there was 1 passenger on board or 50, you got the same amount paid from mainline. Things like fuel were also covered. Now that the majors are stepping away from that setup, the regionals (especially 9E) are feeling the pain. So yes, there is no comparison. You are talking about two entirely different airlines, in an entirely different situation. VX started flying in perhaps the worst time for any airline to enter, mid 2007. Like all other airlines, they were hit hard by the 2007-2010 recession, but especially harder for a new entrant. Those other airlines that started new in that same timeframe (like Skybus) did not survive because they did not have the same financial backing that VX did. But whatever helps you sleep at night, keep telling yourself that VX is just 9E with Airbuses. We don't need concessionary yes voters here anyway.