Actually, the closest scheme I can think of that mirrors what RAH appears to be lining up to try is the whole "Independence Air" debacle, and for much the same reasons . . . i.e., United not looking like the "sure thing" it once was.

Independence had lots of money, Airbus', and lots of CRJ's. Fast forward a year and you had a bunch of good people on the streets.

I'm no expert, and I have no dog in this fight. It's just the odds of starting a successful airline are always pretty slim, whether it be pure "start up" from scratch or a bite the hand that feeds you strategy. I'd hate to see the pilots of Frontier get hosed.