They're also providing a great incentive for NW to reduce their numbers by shifting business out to the regionals.

Delta has farmed out its regional business to 8+ regionals, in large part to minimize the effects of obnoxious union actions at the smaller companies.

NW now has 3 but owns two. They should learn from Delta's mistakes with ASA & esp. with Comair. Delta is still saddled with Comair.

If this gets much worse, my bet is that we'll see NW accelerate the acquisition of smaller aircraft to lessen the need for mainline pilots.