Contract disputes with pilots led to a slowdown in autumn flights that likely led to their high rates of late and cancelled flights.

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As the open market sales would be at spot-rates, which are much higher than contract prices ExxonMobil would have entered into with its major customers, this would mean an increase in profits for the company in the short term.

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If the contract owner is unhappy with the current rate, he typically is faced with stiff surrender charges which deter him from withdrawing funds from the contract or switching to another insurance company offering higher rates.

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