If anyone can get their hands on the April 2004 issue of Airways magazine, I suggest doing so. The 4 or 5 page article on Comair is interesting... seems like your right there P1ayn, it's been set up for years. Just some quotes:

"(In 2001) The company that was once renowned for cordial employee relations..."


In reference to the higher labor costs and reduced flying immediately following 9-11:

"Comair is attempting to do this (compensate) by increasing the average aircraft utilization, by holding off on non-essential purchases, and renegotiating the prices it pays for practically everything."
(Guess that idea went out the window....)

"Pilots and flight attendant unions have been asked to re-negotiate their contracts to include pay cuts and other concessions."
(Remember, this is 2004, Pilots contract was not up until 2006, FA's until 2007)

"Delta has made it clear that cost cuts will be rewarded with growth."
"Based on its existing (higher) overhead, Comair has tendered a propsal to Delta under a competitive bidding system-open to both Connection carriers and outsiders-to operate new services with as many as 80 more RJs."
(I believe this is where Mesa steps in so Delta could use the "industry average" argument...)

A lot more stuff in the article, but certainly foreshadowing of bad times ahead.