DAL, US, AA, UAL are the major player in regional outsourcing. Mainly because the mainline labor groups have traded away that flying in exchange for inflated benefits/pensions (which were taken in BK anyways). If we keep comparing ourselves to those carriers in terms of pay/benefits then we will have to go down that same road they have in terms of contract flying.
Like you said, SWA doesnt do it, and they have been a model for airlines to follow throughout the world. I really admire what they have done with their business and labor relations. Instead of contracting out flying to keep costs low, they have relied on a lean management structure, uber-productive frontline employees, and a slow but methodical growth plan. Will that happen here at JB? Probably not to the same level of success as SWA, but I think in some form or fashion we will follow in those footsteps. We are poised to grow internationally (S. America, Europe) much better than SWA, and I think that should be the focus going forward.