They really really want it to. HA pilots are just supposed to accept that “something had to give”. Even though we were bought before anything gave. It’s like the jerk at the bar who goes up to a guy talking to a girl and pours a beer on his head because “the guy was a creep”. In reality the girl was digging the guy who got beer dumped on him. Now everyone has a bad night because the jerk couldn’t control his outrage.

There’s no way to prove what would’ve happened to HA if they weren’t bought. That’s why that argument is dismissed by arbitrators. Especially in HAs state of no bankruptcy filings or concessionary contracts in the months leading to acquisition.