Owning the E145s means if oil prices rise, they can be parked and you don’t have to keep paying leases. If United is really taking them back this is a good sign and actually supports the theory of a buyout.

Aside from Skywest and Republic, United Express is in dire straits. They absolutely have to do something to stabilize their regional feed. Skywest can’t be trusted to stabilize XJT and it’s intended replacement, Commutair, has been an abject failure.