the only thing "guaranteed" is 16 aircraft, that is it.. no more, no less...

IF Pinnacle can meet and exceed the predetermined performance initiatives, then DCI may grant an additional allotment of aircraft with NO pre-determined locations.

The aircraft that are unofficially up for consideration are 16 that Mesa are currently operating and that is also provided that MESA does not turn around that operation. My guess is expressjet was put into LAX as an incentive for MESA to step up and if Expressjet succeeds I would guess they would get first shot over Pinnacle who is 6 months behind ExpressJet in operating for DCI.

All I am saying politely is you are counting chickens before they hatch and as with everything in aviation, don't count on it until it has been on the property for at least 6 months, that is all...