Originally Posted by
block30
Gosh, I would think whoever is getting these thirty aircraft would have needed to be hiring already.
Not necessarily, as deliveries are between 2014 and 2015. Several 50 seaters contracts expire in that timeframe. It'll probably be a delivery sked like RAH's, two or three a month.
Whoever wins will have a hell of a time hiring. Mainline carriers, will be hiring faster than 50 seaters are getting pulled. Something will have to give. Like the FAA furloughs, as soon as the flight delays and cancellations start,the corporations and lobbyists will have a fit, then the 1500 rule will quickly be revised or terminated.
Mesa is also pretty strong rumor as the winner of this flying. They've turned into a pretty efficient and cheap 70/90 seat operator. They are also the first iPad approved carrier, something our big strong "economies of scale" Skywest Inc has been unable to do for any of their subsidiaries.