In my opinion the bean counters that run these airlines will tell the media "we are concentrating on a quality product" while not changing a thing and accepting the lowest price and lowest quality lift provider. I hope i am wrong but it would be a drastic change of pace.

If they do go with a quality product then in my opinion i think Skywest has this lift locked up. That is, as long as United management wasnt worried about giving Skywest too big of a % of the regional lift. XJT, comair, AWAC, ... lots of people put their name in the hat and I am assuming a lot of those bids are priced at or near break even. Skywest is big enough to where their fleet would be 450 + or - airplanes. That is a lot of airplanes to spread their overhead costs over. just my 2 cents