I don't know how DL does it... but NWA creates the marketing times and flight schedules and dumps it on Mesaba, Pinnacle and Compass. It is then up to those airlines to match schedules to aircraft and people. I would imagine DL does the same sort of thing... it is up to Pinnacle to tail route and create pilot schedules that are realistic. They barely do that for NWA, it could very well be the case in ATL. If duty days scheduled to the max, block times scheduled to the max and rest as short as possible creates a nightmare at NWA, how could it possibly work at DL?

Ever think about this concept? What if DL is shedding this Pinnacle contract because it's easy? Perhaps they don't want to deal with Pinnacle at the new Delta. This is apart of the streamlining of DCI carriers and this is a tiny contract to get rid of. NWA owns the 200s that Pinnacle operates, therefore the new Delta will own them and can control who operates them. Looks like Pinnacle is in a precarious situation.

Or it could go this way... DL wants to create a new contract for Pinnacle and by shedding the 900s they are temporarily no longer a DCI carrier. But after the merge, Pinnacle is back in play with the 200s and therefore probably the 900s and is forced into a new deal with the new Delta.

NWA, DL and US are the only airlines that Pinnacle can fly these planes for. Hmmm... Pinnacle Crop owns Colgan and Pinnacle Airlines. Pinnacle Corp owns the 900s. Hmmm... perhaps 900s to be flown for US?