Scope is within the realm of possibility and might not even cost that much in 2020. Reason being the pilot shortage, majors will have enough trouble recruiting the quality of applicants to which they are accustomed, to say nothing of their regional partners. Lack of scope only does them so much good if regionals can't staff, or operate safely with the staff they have. Code share is a different story.

They will of course extract a price for scope, because it may be worth more to the pilots now than it is to AAG.

But better to lock it in asap... the pilot shortage may not be perpetual.