Re: turning express jet around.
I don't see that jetexpressions has problem, I see united and delta having problems.
ExpressJet goes to work every day to provide feed for "major partner" and instead of receiving a pay check, expressjet actually pays money everyday for the pleasure of moving airplanes around. (Third quarter last year with standing).
I don't know about you, but if it cost me money to go to work everyday, I'd rather stay at home. This isn't a charity event for United, Delta shareholders and profit sharing employees. In previous dynamics, bankrupting a regional carrier meant nothing because another would fill the gap. "Major partner" is receiving nearly 50% of their feed at unimaginable low "c-scale" prices. In the short term no carrier can do it, and if Major Partner wants to continue getting feed from small markets there is only one solution and that is opening the purse. Fortunately, major airlines are making a profit.
Accelerating CLE closing helps United, but it is only a stop gap. Simple market forces dictate one action, and that is simply pay more money to bring expressjet up to making money or face losing that feed.

Now what is interesting to think about is possible corporate sabatoge, a major will defensively pay a premium to lock up available regional feed while also being an offensive move against the competition. Face it a c+ scale is still a lot cheaper than trying to get frequency with 73's.

American could dominate this strategy, but I think mgmt hasn't caught up to their surrounding yet and they'd rather punish envoy, hurt their bottom and top line instead of attempting to out strategies Delta or United.