The shift wasn't just because of the runway construction. DAL and LCC were supposed to have had a LGA terminal and slot swap a few months ago. Didn't happen, so now it's plan B. DAL returned some LCC LGA slots, and LCC gave DAL back some DCA slots that had been leased out for a long time.

DAL management still says they're getting out of the 50 seat business as fast as they can. CMR has the oldest 50 seaters in the industry, and the bankruptcy lease agreements on some of those start expiring pretty soon. That will be tough flying to keep for any airline who has 50 seaters that DAL doesn't have to fly, imo. The good news: it looks like CMR management is finally trying to run an airline again with some of the personnel changes they're making. With the uncertainty in the economy, it should be an interesting ride.