My belief is they opened the window, and are interviewing, as a dry run to see how well this new format works when hiring really ramps up for the NEO's..
I mean.. Why do all this application, interviewing, REC letters etc etc.... For 14 new hires... 4 of which were picked from the last window 2 years ago...
IMO, the hiring system previously in place was awful compared to just about every airline in the country.. Including regionals.... It was a huge black eye for an otherwise pleasant workplace.....( and very easy job compared to multi leg east coast winter flying) out of 40 interviews a week they took maybe 2 or 3 from each group ( maybe more?) it needed a change, and this was a laid back situation to test it out...
I believe also they had a few guys already in mind to interview.. Maybe not all, but definitely a majority.... This window was purely a "get everyone's hopes up" but a very very select few will have a chance....
2 years from now is when to really be hopeful for...