If this is true I would venture to guess that part of the deal was to have all the Md-80's off the balance sheet by a certain (sooner) date and to cease hiring so there's fewer pilots to integrate into the larger system. There seems to have been a sudden shift in their course in the last few months, "hiring from now until forever" was the plan. Md-80's gone late 2019 but now abruptly moved up. New-hire classes suddenly cancelled with no advance warning and no email to the pilot group. Growth plans stunted, i.e. no 2nd OAK plane despite having 14 crews for the base. Strange LAS displacement bid. Lots of odd happenings around here, could be legit but it could be a buyout.