Spectre,
Oh, I forgot... the continental deal.... before I start, a note all you snipers... polite corrections to info I post for young guys is always welcome, but try and keep the **** to a limit.
Continental gave Con Ex the ax on some routes. That bidding became open to any and all. RUMOR has it, that it came down to chitaqua, republic, or one of those subsidiary. ASA lost out because "we were not a current operator of the EMB145, or so our company says. Here's the snag, Con Ex had "right of first refusal" that means Continental thought that by giving them the ax on those routes con ex would not want to hang on to the aircraft. Con ex decided to keep the airplanes to everyones surprise and now the deal with Republic, Chitq, (whoever) is dead, or at least open for re bid.
I'm not sure on these facts but that is what is being put out by our mang. I welcome any Con ex pilots to put out the real poop.