http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/95186

Mesa Air Group threw a party for its new joint venture Wednesday, and hogging the place of honor was the first red-, white- and gold-painted Kunpeng Airlines plane.

The 50-seater is scheduled to wing its way to China later this month and start flying people around the vast Asian country on Sept. 16, said Mesa Air CEO Jonathan Ornstein.

Kunpeng is named for “a mythical bird revered in Chinese society,” Ornstein said.

East Phoenix-based Mesa partnered with Shenzhen Airlines to create the regional carrier, which will be piloting 20 50-seat jets prior to the 2008 Summer Olympics, scheduled in Beijing, he said.

Ornstein said Kunpeng could eventually grow to a 200-plane operation. That’s the current size of Mesa Air’s whole fleet today, said Paul Skellon, company spokesman.

“There’s a lot of opportunity there,” Ornstein said. “There are 1.4 billion people (in China), and air travel is in its infancy. There are fewer regional jets in China than in Chicago.”

“There may be a day when Mesa will be a China (based) airline,” he added.

Shenzhen Airlines is the largest privately owned carrier in The People’s Republic of China. Mesa will be the first U.S. company to create and own a big chunk of an airline in the country.

Mesa’s ownership share of Kunpeng is about 25 percent, Ornstein said.

He would not say how much Mesa invested in the venture, but he did say that he expects Kunpeng to be profitable within the first year of operation.

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It looks like Mesa management has started their pre-contract posturing. Nothing like a whipsaw with a foreign communist country. Obviously JO has run out of options in the states and has won very little new flying lately... the quality regionals are the ones that are maintaining the contracts (and pilots).

Don't fall for it guys. This is what management does prior to negotiations... reports sudden strange decreased profits and comes up with threats like China. He's a smooth talker- be careful.

It looks like if you are a Mesa pilot the best two options are this:
1) Leave. If you are an FO I highly, highly recommend making the lateral move to a regional with work rules and pay protection. You'll LOVE it. If you are a Captain, be aggressive with the majors and keep your applications updated. An airline can't fly without pilots!

2) If you are going to stay (for whatever reason) then back ALPA and get involved with negotiations from day one. Increase the pressure and intensity. The rest of us have your back and we'll support you however you need it.... picketing, etc.


I have a bit of an interest in all this because I was at Mesa for a short time. I sure am glad I left Mesa prior to this mess on the horizon. Good luck, fly safe, write it up and don't take NO for an answer. You guys have been looking forward to this for YEARS don't back down an inch.