Originally Posted by
KCaviator
I think the writing is on the wall with the UAX-preferred carriers getting all of the new flying.
Anyone know the expiration dates of our UA CPA’s?
I think you're over-reacting. It moves in cycles. I don't think anyone would consider Mesa or GoJet "UAX-preferred" carriers, and they're the last two coins to drop.
United has an infatuation with playing regionals off one another, and this is just the latest version of that.
Mesa is at a net gain of zero aircraft in this deal. The big winner is really GoJet, presuming they're getting the 700s Mesa is losing and converting them to 550s.
It's been known for quite a while that Skywest and ExpressJet were the next two in line for United 175s, and this is really just United shuffling aircraft around to create more small RJs out of thin air. Seeing as we don't have any CRJ-700s to offer, it's not remotely surprising they turned to a carrier that did.