Originally Posted by RJ85FO

Keep in mind here that the Compass contract starts at 51 seats. Unless something changes, Compass will not ever operate the aircraft currently flown by 9E or XJ. Compass is intended to be "inbetween" the regional partner and the mainline. The actual language is more complicated and allows for the placement of 76 seat jets or props at the regional carrier up to a limit before Compass has to be staffed. It was sort of a mechanism to provide replacements to the Avro and still have them flown by a regional partner at lower costs.

The latest RUMOR I heard is that NWA will order EMB175's to be flown on the Compass certificate and CRJ705's to replace the Avro's and be flown by a regional partner. (Not necessarily XJ or 9E).

NWA will not make an announcement in that regard until the dust settles with the negotiations, or lack thereof, at 9E and XJ...of course that is my opinion, but I have been living it day in and day out for a year now.