Originally Posted by
fatsopilot
So Skywest, ASA, Express and Republic don't have senior pilots? And they don't fly 50 seaters? This was just another way for Delta to control costs. Delta gave 9E the money because they knew it would put downward pressure on the industry and in the end put more money in the hands of the share holders. Pinnacle is just the first to the BK show, soon others will follow. Delta needs Pinnacle around so they can be the next GoJet and keep down regional costs. That is one theory at least.
Skywest and RP have the unique ability to finance their own aircraft thanks to a healthy balance sheet. They've been able to leverage this to get contracts they wouldn't normally get, and to get higher compensation in exchange for less financial risk for the mainline customer. That higher compensation offsets their higher costs.
If DL wants 9E to take the next batch of 900's, Delta will need to do the financing. If Skywest takes them, they can finance themselves, taking liabilities off the DL balance sheet.