Furloughing / terminating crew trackers right before summer is definitely not a good sign. And the fact that the union will be bending over to allow CA's to pickup FO trips, versus drawing a hard line and getting FO's paid more to attract and retain. The end is near.

 

Whoever bought us has crew trackers already

 

I don’t think SJU is going to sell Xjet unless they are only selling the 121 certificate.

 

I just can’t see it being “the end”. There is no regional that can pick up the flying being done. I suspect it is streamlining of resources, possibly outsourcing more functions to corporate.

 

Basically 2 things will shut down ExpressJet.
1. They can’t staff the flying that they have signed contracts to fly.
2. United buys additional mainline planes to replace those seats.

Neither has happened or will happen overnight. Even if United were to buy new planes it will take years to get them. I don’t see ExpressJet getting any large rj’s, but I don’t see them completely going away as long as there are 50 seat jets running around. Scope is maxed out and even if United added another fleet type it would only allow around 65 more big rj’s. Even if they all went to express the number of pilot seats would be slashed over what is present now. My guess is that those planes will be spread out between the companies already flying them. I don’t see ExpressJet having a bright future when the 50 seat jets are parked, but until then I see the worse case being shrinking considerably but surviving. If I was there I’d be looking to get out, and if I was applying to the regionals I’d go somewhere with big rj’s and your best guess of a quick upgrade. Being that United changes it’s mind on a daily basis, what actually happens is anyone’s guess.

 

The actual numbers under current language is add 79 SNB on UAL then 70 76 seaters BUT must remove 140 50 seaters.

 

That light at the end of the tunnel you are seeing is actually an oncoming train. We are already way behind the power curve with staffing. There's no way they can catch up unless they start throwing boatloads of money with a real career path. C5 and Skywest continue to grow. If United can get it for less, why wouldn't they.

 

Bigger airlines than this one have gone away and the market adjusted. When major airlines like Eastern, Braniff, and Pan Am shut down the remaining companies picked over the choice parts and the wheel kept turning. ExpressJet could go on, but if they do shut the doors the choice assets and flying would be picked up by the remaining regionals and the ExpressJet pilots would be free to apply to other airlines or find another line of work. Ask the guys at Comair how things played out. I think the train is heading your way, but who knows when it will get there. Regardless of the reasons there isn’t enough new blood entering the regional market to support it at the current size. I think that you’ll see the regional fleet totals shrink within the industry. The 50 seat jet market will go the way of the 30 seat turboprop. The remaining regional fleet will be 70 seat jets, but a much smaller total regional fleet number than now. The majors will eventually follow Delta and bring on 100+ seat jets to provide the lift.

 

Ahh, it hasn't been that bad for me. Of course I avoid ATL- the place where nonrevs go to die. Also I don't try to take a family of 7 to Paris over the summer. But being flexible I've gone all over the world with my kids. Heck, one time trying to get home from CVG couldn't get on a flight. Looked at what was available... what the heck? CDG was wide open, business class. Went to Paris, bummed around for a day. Flew home, business class again. "Seriously honey, the only way I could get home was to go to Paris."

 

Or rent a car