The parent companies and management make money hand over fist. That's what they do well.

They also play the airline contract game. Meaning if the company has the upper hand and the pilots have a low paying crappy contract, it's the companies moral obligation to continue the management fat cat tradition of dragging out negotiations as long as they possibly can. Every day that the pilots continue under the old contract is a win for the fat cats. Under no circumstances will a fat cat willingly cut into his or her own profits by giving to the pilot group. Any acquiescence on the part of a fat cat will only be done under direct physical threat.