So if it came down to 2 or 3 regionals who's to say it is the wholly owned who survive? Actually it would be much cheaper to just get rid of the wholly owned's because there would be no expensive contract to try and get rid of. Plus if the wave of the future really is to have regionals share more of the fuel costs then that would be possible with contracts at a contract carrier. At a wholly owned the major partner is footing the entire fuel bill no matter what.

Just playing devil's advocate here. I think we all want to think we know will happen. But really none of us do.