It's always about the talks.

The fact of the matter is that Piedmont management are just order takers. They have no control over anything of substance. Tempe tells them what, when, and where to fly. SF and Co. continue to blow gee whiz smoke about aircraft acquisition, and our exalted MECC BF passes it alone. If he plays ball, he gets time off. It's been that way since the dawn of time.