Why Pinnacle temporarily? Simple, the merger is not done yet. Until then we have no infastructure to fly for DL. It would also take a capasity agreement to have Xj fly for another mainline carrier. Why sign one, when we'll be wholly owned in a few months. Pinnacle has the ability to fly for DL at a moments notice. After the merger which is expected to take place by the end of the year, we'll be wholly owned and DL can do what they wish with us. Until then, it's all controlled by NWA.

Trust me, XJ pilots that were hired before last spring know all about "we'll believe it when we see it." I bet even the ones that are post Ch11 have learned quickly about this business. We can all sit around pretenting something may or may not happen, but the facts speak for themselves. The matter in which this second hiring boom started proves that we're not hiring just for some off chance phenomena.