Originally Posted by
rickair7777
No major wants those 50-seaters (especially if they are operated by mesa). Even if mesa gets a significant reduction in lease payments, where are they going to get the income? DL and UA have already terminated their 50 seat flying, there's only a handful left at US.
If the same people also hold the 900 and 700 leases, they would probably prefer to kill mesa and get their big RJ's back...those still have market value.
50 seaters will go one of three routes:
1. Beer cans
2. Third world
3. Corporate Jet conversion
The CR9s and CR7s will definitely get scooped up. Ideally I would love to see one of the majors scoop them up and stick mainline pilots in them but realistically that won't happen. It's what I'm hoping for though.
The more realistic option (and smart business decision from a management perspective) would be someone with a ton of cash (Skywest or RAH) coming in and buying these up and burying Mesa once and for all.
The Reverend seems a little preoccupied at the moment and I doubt he'll get any more feed contracts from his major partners since he is now directly competing with them. He also seems to have an obsession with the E-Jets so I doubt he'll add to his small CRJ fleet.
Skywest Inc. seems like the most realistic candidate to scoop up these aircraft if the opportunity arrises. They are sitting on a ton of cash and can probably find a home for them in short order.
Thoughts?