Just how would Walsh protect the Bacon routes if the reports of the rapidly dwindling pilot workforce and a probably nonexistant 'backroom' are true? I would suggest that Walsh needs this deal more than flybe. Walsh needs to offload an albatross while flybe, although the collapse might mean a setback to expansion by a couple of years, can carry on regardless. Sounds as if it is entering the brinkmanship phase. What's the advice always given? If it's a bad deal then walk away. flybe will survive but Bacon is beyond economical repair; come back and pick over the wreck in 6 months time.