AA needs the pilots. If they don't flow, then the guy who was going to flow leaves for a non-AA carrier, and the prospective new hire to fill that guy's spot also goes to a non-AA carrier, as he sees the flow not working.

If AA wants to fly their current passengers, they need their current pilots. If they don't flow, their passengers won't fly on AA, because they'll be flying on the other carrier's aircraft, crewed by the AA guys who left.

PILOT SHORTAGE. It's happening.