AMR bought the five companies providing lift as American Eagle a long time ago. Four were merged under the Simmons (MQ) certificate, and Executive was kept separate for the extended overwater certification for the ATR's in the Caribbean. They made the purchases to control the product, schedule synergy, and schedule flexibility. A 16 year contract ensued. Flowthroughs, 9/11, flowbacks, and many other things occurred. In general, it was a good thing as it reduced the whipsaw that those merged pilots were put through by management. Now, Eagle-voy is right back where it started, getting whipsawed.