Originally Posted by BoilerUP

Some of you don't know seem to know the difference between a "payment" and an "investment".

Sure, an investment of $125M for exit financing into US Airways by AWAC's ownership group looked like they were buying a 10 year contract for 70 airframes worth of 50 seat flying...but when the same group turned the $125M in LCC stock they were given in exchange for that exit financing into more than a 100% return on their investment in less than 3 years, it becomes a pretty damn smart investment.

Republic put up similar money to Airways, which not only got them a long-term contract for the E-Jets bought BOUGHT MidAtlantic, the US Airways E170 operation. This was an asset purchase that came with a capacity lift agreement. Along those same lines, RJET loaned Airways $35M last year, and that debt was paid by the 10 E190s Airways "sold" them, in addition to RJET assuming their debt payments.

Many investors realize that airlines, on the whole, are a gigantic money pit...so financing isn't widely available to a legacy airline and when it is, it normally comes at a steep price via high interest rate and/or unfavorable loan terms. Financing comes easier from those who have a financial interest in your survival (like a regional airline partner)...but it also allows that regional partner to often get something pretty valuable in return and make a good return on their investment into their mainline partner.

Like it or not, its simply business...