It seems to me that selecting CHQ is more of an insurance policy than anything else. If XJT decided to take all 69 aircraft (which I hope they do) and fly them for somebody else or themselves that leaves CAL some options.
CHQ has the same type of aircraft in their fleet as what CAL is currently operating with XJT, they also have a bigger airframe to offer if (in the unlikley event) their pilots vote in scope relief and allow bigger aircraft. CAL may not even want to replace the 69 aircraft in their system, but rather if they were returned by XJT they would need somebody to operate them so as not to lose out on the lease payments/revenue. It seems like a win/win situation for both CAL and RAH. Cal gets some flexibility in the number of aircraft used in the system, and RAH gets another customer that will supply them with the needed aircraft to do the flying if they are available. If XJT decides to keep all 69 aircraft, RAH is on the hook to come up with replacements for CAL up to 69 airframes freeing CAL of having to acquire more aircraft. In reality unless the Delta code for CHQ is terminated and the required number of ERJ's are freed up to do the CAL flying, I don't see RAH buying any ERJ's to support the CAL contract. I doubt RAH would have accepted the contract if there was any chance of having to purchase additional 50 seat aircraft, and I would guess that they took the deal more for the opportunity to have a shot at any future 70+ seat flying under the CO code. As Bedford said himself, RAH is not looking to grow in the 50 seat segment of the market. I think RAH looked at CAL as low hanging fruit, they'll eat it if it's easy to get to, but their not really looking to go too high up the tree unless CAL makes it worth their while a' la EMB-170's
For the XJT folks (myself included) it is going to be an interesting time these next couple of months. If things go well we may come out of this better off than we started in December. If it doesn't go well then some of the employees will lose their jobs (myself included).
If nothing else, I look to the future of XJT with optimisim, our management did not come to us with their hand out looking for concessions to "save" the CAL flying. They only ask that we continue to do the same job we have been all along, and wait and see what the future holds. I don't think the bulk of the XJT pilots hold any ill feeling towards the CHQ group, this is a business where none of us, or our companies have any ownership of the work we do. In the end we all need to work together to make the regionals a better place to work. As the dream of getting on at a major keeps getting further and further away, we are probably going to be at this rung of the career ladder a long time................
