Now THIS adds an interesting ingredient to the discussion. If what you say is true, then the scope hawks that are all chafed under their saddle blanket can relax because DAL will never buy all of the super duper large RJs that they are all worried about. After all, if our exclusive carrier is downgrading and backsliding, why would they need them? But what this agreement would appear to do is to start the process of exclusive arrangements with the rapidly dwindling regional airline industry. Don't want to be exclusive? See DAL vs Alaska......