Wild guess. Senior pilots held off to bid it for the holidays and to secure their vacation for next year. Doing such knowing movement would still be happening and no need to rush into those positions. Now they will have a premium vacation slot next year, more pilots below them in their new status, and a better schedule then they previously would have with junior pilots who took it the year prior.

Just a guess based on his predictions. One that may very well be right. Many also jumping before the MD80 parking which with the exception of a few new hires is still relatively senior and those pilots being an unknown what they’ll bid to next.