I honestly feel "safer" at 9E than I would at Compass or Mesaba...if our NWA language holds up, the merged company would basically end up with a couple of wholly owned carriers (Comair & Mesaba) who have 900s, and a few well-performing regionals with lots of 50s and actual legal contracts stating minimum numbers of a/c allowed (Skywest, ASA, 9E). If one were in management wondering what to do, it would be the least costly and least hassle option to simply swap XJ and Comair 900s onto 9E, ASA/Skywest, and park the 200s in the desert....since there are no protections I know of at XJ or Comair protecting from such an action.

I'm not saying that's a good thing, or I wish that to happen, just making an observation...there is going to be a surplus of 200s at carriers with contractual minimums, and there are going to be a good chunk of 900s at a place that has zero contractual minimums or protections.