Considering the announcement today of CAL starting service from ORD to FLL and PBI on 737's, there is one of two answers available:
A. UAL pulled out of those markets because they were losing money, and now they are stupid enough to try and re-enter the market.
B. UAL was making money in those markets, but had to pull out around the time they parked the guppy fleet and furloughed over 1000 pilots.
If you answered B, I think you may begin to have the requested "proof" of Tilton's rightsizing this airline for a merger.