ATW Daily News
Pinnacle looks to expand Q400 flying
Wednesday October 8, 2008
Pinnacle Airlines Corp., parent of Pinnacle Airlines and Colgan Air, plans to exercise up to 15 Q400 options before year end and shop the aircraft to its mainline partners, President and CEO Phil Trenary told
ATWOnline yesterday.
Colgan currently operates the aircraft on behalf of Continental Connection
(ATWOnline, Feb. 5). Pinnacle and Colgan operate regional jets and turboprops respectively and also fly for Northwest Airlink, Delta Connection, US Airways Express and United Express. Pinnacle's March 2007 Q400 order comprised 15 firm, 10 conditional and 20 option aircraft.
Trenary conceded yesterday in a meeting with
ATW editors that operating an additional 15 turboprops for any of its partners is "a fairly bold goal considering the market" but said the company wants to take advantage of delivery slots starting in 2010 and feels the aircraft will make economic sense. "We're talking to all of our airline partners about the Q400," he said. "Fifteen are reserved for Continental. The other 15 we can take anywhere we want." He stressed that placing the aircraft is a "goal" and that a definitive announcement will not come until "the customer says they'll take the airplanes."
by Brian Straus