[QUOTE
it’s very possible that management will decide - like the WN management apparently has - that this is an opportunity to seize market share from the Big Three while they are handicapped by the loss of their own international flying. If that were the case they well might just not furlough or downgrade at all and keep their cheapest labor on board, flying aircraft at less than break-even fares to gain markets and gates, then gradually ease up prices to where they are again generating profits as the recovery happens.

It all depends upon how they see the recovery playing out. Clearly, between the additional Fed loans available to them and the recent sale of stock, they have the liquidity to put the chips on the table if they want to place that sort of a bet.[/QUOTE]

I keep hearing this on the line and in the forums. I don't think the big 3 are going to give up domestic market share without a fight. International is obviously their bread and butter, but with that market recessed and probably not coming back for quite sometime, whose to say they won't evaluate their market position and concentrate assets and resources toward the preservation of these markets. Yes, the big 3 are going to contract, but so could we. Also, what are the terms of these loans? Is there anything that would prevent us from entering into someone else's market? Yes we are smaller and nimble, and maybe we are able to add some additional routes, but I don't think this will be a huge windfall as some are thinking. SWA, JB, Frontier, and Allegiant will be competing for these routes as well.