If you study the history and the changes to the law it is very much the case.
Also worth noting that for airlines they have to file BK before they actually run out of cash... the FAA knows a broke airline will not meet safety requirements and will pull their cert at some level of low liquidity. An airline can make the case to the court that they have to file while still in black if the GS is headed for the red.
The big difference is that creditors have more control of the process now. But if RAH feels THEIR creditors would prefer the airline intact and making lease payments, it might feel comfortable that they will cooperate rather than force liquidation. But it's still uncertainty for the DIP.
And regionals are in a unique situation... they have long term contracts with both their creditors (plane lessors) and their customers. If costs increase (pilot costs in this case) they cannot just pass them on to the customers, or readily re-negotiate their leases. So in this case it's probably legit.