Hawker445

where on earth did they get a 700?

Skywest managed to buy 4 additional 700s that were in a corporate configuration a few weeks ago.

Claxstarr

Who owns that one? If AW getting into the 550, I can’t imagine they’d try to buy their own 700’s right now as OO basically owns the entire 550 fleet.

RabidW0mbat

we don’t own it, it’s on lease from elite airways as part of adding it ( the 700 ) to our certificate. We also have a 900 on lease to add that as well. Corporate is very quick to tell us we have no contract to fly them for a partner however, they are just expanding our ability to do so. That said, AW has never spent a penny if they don’t have a plan to make a dollar...so who knows. The AW pilot group will probably be told about the same time the rest of the world is...or after most likely.

Claxstarr

Cool, that’s what I figured. Just a placeholder until they’re on the certificate.
Thanks for the info.

idlethrust

Its all being done on a Hope and a prayer that something transpires in the near future. There is no flying to be had by any of the big 3 right now , unless AA dismantles psa to save some cash and the flying goes up for bid .
Other than that ???
Hope it’s not too much too late . Should have done this years ago .
Mesa shed all of their 50 seaters years ago and everyone said JO was smoking something. Now look at Mesa compared to a few other places .Outlook there looks better just because of their fleet .
200’s are old and worn out . Maint does the best they can maintaining them but they can only do so much .Those things are tired and in need of replacement.

Claxstarr

Funny you should say that. The latest rumor that has the OO boys laughing is that OO is offering to buy PSA.
Although I see a 0.00% chance of that ever happening unless PSA goes under and OO just buys the equipment for pennies on the dollar.

RockyMountain

United or GJ has put the word out that GJ will not be flying the 550 (forever, I don't know the time frame) and other airlines are looking into taking over that business. United wants Skywest to fly them but does not want to pay what Skywest demands. If United won't pay the demand then Skywest is willing to own the planes and lease them out to whoever United chooses. So several airlines are trying to put themselves in a position to show that they can handle it better than the others, that they are more committed.

My best guess is that in the end United will increase what they are willing to pay Skywest and they will do it. It also looks like the other airlines are not willing to do it for what United is offering at this time. Naturally, with flying down, United is not in a hurry to increase their offer. Just lots of negotiation going on about how to divide the estate while the dying party lies there on life support.

Claxstarr

This sounds like a totally reasonable summary of what is most likely happening right now.

SkyWest already owns the 550’s and is leasing them currently to G7, so this is the status quo for now.

The second bolded portion also makes sense as on the last earnings call CC said that Skywest was taking back the first group of converted 550’s that were being leased to G7 as they couldn’t pay the lease fees.. one of the analysts asked if the would be getting leased to another company and hey in no uncertain terms said that they would be flown by Skywest pilots.
It came as a bit of a surprise that Skywest agreed to not only continue leasing the 550’s to G7, but they would be buying the remainder of the 550’s that were at the time owned by G7/UA.
Knowing how CC operates, there is most likely a plan already in place. He only deals in contracts that are 15-20+ years long.
I think the long game is being played here.

This would also make sense as to why Skywest just put 240 guys into CRJ new hire training. (Aside from the 20 new AA 700’s coming online over the next few months).

Claxstarr

Also was there a press release about this today or is this just another rumor?

pangolin

Mesa 700s are being ferried to Tucson.