So they just announced an intent to expand into IAH and ORD. That, combined with the MIA announcement, gives us a pretty good blueprint of what Gary hopes to do moving forward.

We are not retrenching, as are the legacies. We are looking to fill a vacuum, as we always have done. And that will take pilots.

All of which leaves me to wonder just how dire Gary et al really feel things have gotten and how serious the furlough threat is. I feel this ask on pay was a big trial balloon. I mean, why the heck would they not ask? We gave them the 800 side letter, we gave them the MOU’s. If you can get your biggest labor group to just give up ten percent of its pay, and all you have to do is ask, why wouldn’t you at least try?

i think we all just need to take a deep breath, wind our watches, and see what Casey and Jon come back with. Don’t get stampeded and don’t get emotional, because that plays right into what the guys sitting on the other side of the table hope to see.

Poker faces, people.