AA does all of the regionals network planning. The planning team that manages a certain hub, selects the gauge, E140 to 77W, that is best suited for a market and then if multiple airlines operate the same gauge - they float various solutions to see what is most optimal from a maintenance and crew base standpoint. Then that file is sent to the various airlines. There is no bidding or giving any airline the pick vs the scraps. It all has to do with gauge and geography.

I spent 5 years over there, and that’s just a very simplistic view of the process.