I think I agree that the block hour protection is better if AF/KLM downsize. If they were to do so I then have to wonder why we would downsize to 'mirror' them. The only reason that I can justify in my mind is that we are the more expensive labor force, and when the bean counters factor in all that and it's effect on JV revenue sharing it is necessary to cut our flying. It really is the Catch 22 of being higher compensated than our JV partners. My problem is that we seem to have no protection if it goes the other way. They upgauge, get bigger and we keep plodding along with our medium gauge airframes; we throttle back, and they don't. It IS the reason why the company has been out of compliance for the last 4 years after all.