Keep in mind that furloughing is really the only legal way to cut workforce, unless they just close the doors. They can't legally just ax or furlough the top half of the seniority list.

With that being said, if you get rid of the entire bottom half of the pilot group, the cost per block hour will be high, but the overhead cost of the airline will be much lower than it was without having to pay 450 or so pilots a minimum wage.

Also think about this. If Delta's overall plan isn't to entirely dismantle the Comair name, their play might be to furlough all of the junior guys for a few years until all of the most expensive top guys are forced to retire, or they really dislike their new quality of life and they buyout or retire early. Birth Certificates eventually catch up with you (65). Then bring back the furloughs on a really crappy (Mesa) like contract and you have one of the cheapest pilot groups out there.

While Comair may not have the ability to think past tomorrow, keep in mind that Delta plans much further ahead. Delta new back in 2002 that they were going to draw back CVG and what we are seeing today is just part of their overall plan.