I can only see two ways how zero recall is possible.

1. Returning old planes. I think this is unlikely. If they are trying to survive, they will need capacity. Plus it must not be that easy to return them either like it was in 2008. It is not like they can just return two A321s whenever they feel like. In 2008 they were invited by the lessor to do so. I doubt that is the case now. Good luck finding place for them. So if they do return, it will cost them. Much more than last time.

2. More efficient schedules. I can see this happening. They can try and overload the lines to 85 for the first few months of the year and lower reserve coverage. Everyone have fun flying with 13 days off. However eventually they will have to bring them back down because on anything over 83, folks time out by December.

I speculate #2 would make sense. Because it fits the role the company is playing for the possible strike. Perhaps spice it up a little by announcing that they will need to return planes if the pilots do not vote in a TA. Did they not do this last time around with the 401k? That is like negotiations 101. Furthermore it will also give them some space to see how this 2010 is folding out. They can always make a recall later past or half way through summer when they will have a better feel for what the market does, oil prices, etc.

Just my 2 cents... pure and 100% speculation... but it did kill 20 min of my day