Unless something changes that is what they are saying and as of yesterday the party line is staying the same. I asked how he heck they could even think of brining people in with others letting ones go and the response was. This SLI looks like it will take some time. In the near term we have a lot of 777LR coming and we need bodies for those airplanes. They are looking at 430+ starting as early as Late Sept. or Early Oct. I know just plain nuts.
Also, of note, the DC-9's look like they have a very important part of DAL's route plan and will not be going anywhere any time soon. So with out parking that many jets, it appears that even if we agreed to an SLI today, we would need about 400 pilots for the change in work rules at NWA and 400 pilots for the next 12 months of 777. Now I agree that I think that they are smoking crack, but they are the ones that make the decisions. Either way, it will be nice to see, but I am not holding my breath.