QX jets
The meeting did in fact occur...but meetings like this have happened at QX before in the past. This is an effort by new QX president to improve his airline. He, like many before at QX does not like the q400 or some of the other decisions that "previous" management made (like the 6 base plan). So with 15 Q400 leases about to expire, QX has an opportunity. Rather then replace them with 15 more Qs, they want to replace them with 15 jets.
Two giant problems! First they have to get that idea past the Airgroup Investment board (a historically conservative body, not apt to separate itself from it's cash supply). Second, they have to find the pilots to fly them, an increasingly difficult challenge.
The next time you run into a QX pilot ask them what there staffing situation is like. Their current scheduling coverage program relys on on paying 200% pay to cover trips (50% over and above the CBA), and running classes at the maximum that the schoolhouse will allow.
What the true problem is not that QX will be taking away Alaska and mainline routes, it is how will Alaska feed it's 900ERs to Hawaii, with PAX stuck in QX cities unable to get to Seattle.