The gaps are closing. Not only is DL parking 50 seaters, but also taking on past 70 seat routes with DC9s now (ATL--GRR, FNT, DAY, etc). When the new FAA rules eventually come out resticting high speed overnights (or naps) and increasing the hiring requirements (1500 hours), the regionals will become more expensive, and again get smaller.
As far as code share outsourcing, that is a problem too. But, you have to see what benefits could result. Westjet flies a lot of intra-canada flying (they want 50% of the total Canada domestic flying), and very little INTL flying (largest plane is 738---they do fly them to Caribbean, Hawaii, and Mexico---places SWA doesn't go). They could fly people from Toronto to JFK (eventually), and they could transfer pax to fly south (S America) or even to Europe instead of Air Canada from YYZ. I don't know if DL wants to go to every Canadian city, but through MSP DL already goes to quite a few. Maybe there is more revenue to tap there, but with a couple flights a day to MSP, it might be better for them to help out with a 737 or two. Dalpa would have to look this over and make sure there are assurances, since they have the right to say NO to a code-share.
And as far as LBB, MAF, AMA, and ELP go, it is still not worth it. No thanks.
Bye Bye--General Lee