Well for one, since the great depression this country hasn't had a recession last more than 16 months. We technically aren't even in the text book definition of a recession yet although it feels like one. The economy is already showing signs of a bottom. Existing home sales have leveled out and even began to rise last month. Oil prices have gone down over 50% over a 3 month period and people are just now starting to see those heavily reduced prices at the pump.(Because oil is sold in futures gas lags about 3 months). I know I was spending 300 a month between my wife and myself on gas a month so a dollar drop saves me about 100 a month. This will give people a little more cash and they will spend it further helping the economy recover. Travel will increase through the summer as it usually does. Schedules will be increased as the economy recovers.

Bornhorst said in a recent article that 7 or 8 regionals would survive as DCI carriers.

Mesaba
Pinnacle
ASA
CHQ
Shuttle
SkyWest
ASA
Freedom
Compass

Remove Freedom and you are left with 8. When Bornhorst went to DCI good things started to happen at Comair. Freedom was cnx and we got almost all of that flying. The only reason we still dont have it is because of the courts. When they cnx Freedoms 900's Bornhorst awarded them to Comair. According to Savaggio they were initially going to park those planes and that is why we lost them. Whatever the reason was, Pinnacle is supposed to give those back in Jan and Feb. Comair is still in the running for those as well. (Despite what everyone at Mesaba says)

None of this is a guarentee but nothing you say is either. It is speculation either way. There is light at the end of the tunnel and it isn't the train coming to run us over.