The NWA pilot contract allows NWA to operate up to 90 jets in the 51-76 seat category. 36 of these are CRJ900s at Mesaba, which ostensibly replace the 36 RJ85s they retired a few years back. As things stand now Compass will get 36 E175s. That leaves 18 additional airframes which I assume would either be CR9s at XJ or E175s at CP.

I don't think NWA pilots will give up any more scope; I think they realize that even 90 is too many and potentially represents a partial outsourcing of the DC9 fleet. I'd like to see them get the 76 seat flying back into mainline with the next contract but that's not until 2011 and a lot can happen in the meantime. For starters, if NWA ends up getting E195s at mainline it may make economic sense to bring the E175s onto the same certificate.