Originally Posted by
UnitedExpress
PHOENIX, Dec. 03, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mesa Air Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: MESA) announced today it will add 20 new Embraer E175 LL aircraft to its United Express fleet. The aircraft will be owned and financed by Mesa and be covered under a 12-year capacity purchase agreement. The E175 LL features 70 seats in a three-class configuration. Deliveries are scheduled to begin May 2020 and expected to be completed by the end of 2020.
The parties are also extending the contract for 42 E175s for an additional five years. The aircraft, which are owned by United, are now contracted through the end of 2024 with rights to extend through 2027.
The press release says “will be” owned. What’s to prevent United to simply act as the middle man and move those 20 firm orders to Mesa for them to pay for? It’s likely the same order. Embraer hasn’t announced a new order separate from the UAL one.