You don't get it do you. If they were kept separate, no. You can have 2 or more airlines owned by a holding company and not integrate lists. Since they are merging certificates a SLI will have to happen. But it only states they cannot be stapled. If the VA guys agree (not that they would) to a 1000 to 1 integration it's perfectly legal.

A perfect example is Gojet, Trans States and Compass. All under one holding company, all different lists. Compass was bought but Gojet was started to circumvent Trans States contract.