Originally Posted by Bucking Bar

Maybe not smoke and mirrors, but cash talks and this is a liquidity game until the economy turns around, which might be a L O N G time for it see a "normal" GDP again.

That having been said, I think Republic is jumping without a net. They figure it is "get big or die trying" time, which didn't work so well for Braniff. Frontier is a gimme, if they can run it and maintain the positive cash flow. I still can't figure out what they are thinking with MidWest unless Delta is propping it up via code share, or some other arrangement.

I think the small jet divisions of Delta are still for sale, despite the "we don't like all this outsourcing" talk from Flight Operations management.I think they like the idea of a alter-ego DCI carrier flying large jets. Gives management leverage in C2012.

Everyone has read my argument about how bad scope leads to a declining trend in pay and benefits on bigger airplanes, so I will not belabor this explanation again. "Lines in the sand" just are not effective ... we must own the beach!