Phteven

Profitably is probably a better choice of words than easily. I imagine SEA-YYJ/EAT/YKM/PSC, PDX-RDM/EUG for example would not be cheap on a 175. Plus turn times from boarding an airplane through one door that doesn't have airstairs. Add to that any airport where we regularly use Cat III or RNP.

I don't want to sound like a Q400 fan, it has certainly been a troublemaker. My point is, these are historically not the circumstances that would suggest we are being shown the door. We're talking about an awful lot of risk and expense to AAG to replace us for comparatively minimal gain.

Horizon costs are already becoming more in line with the rest of the industry simply because we're not looking at any contractual improvements.

Cruz5350

I'm probably the biggest Q400 dork there is, but you'd be surprised at how efficient the 175 is coupled with the fact that there's now first class and you can probably almost break even profit wise if you just strictly compare fuel burns. There is definitely city pairs that wont work for the 175 like EAT, but the others listed I could easily see on the jet and while they'll never be CAT III there is a push for RNP at SkyWest. Anyways just food for thought and was curious as to what your thoughts were on it.

snackysmores

I for one welcome our new OO overlords

skwcrj

I agree. Except that I'm not a Q400 dork.

Compass currently operates SEA-YVR and SEA-YYJ. We do LAX-SAN in the 175.

Adding to the rumor mill... Take it for what it's worth:

I just flew with one of our aircraft fleet managers who spoke to the CEO of SkyWest Inc. According to the manager, the CEO doesn't believe that we are getting the AS 175's.

Also, one of the SEA mechanics (same caveat) says that AS wants some of the UAX birds coming off lease. This does not make sense to me since Alaska announced that all CRJ flying would transition to the E175 by fall of 2016. Unless, they see an opportunity to add more jets with first class.

QX guys,

Keep all of that in mind as you consider the offers from QX management.

BTW... My Magic 8 Ball tends to be about half right (or is that half wrong?).

EngineOut

I've heard from SEA mechanics that they want 200s, too. FWIW.

snackysmores

They'd save a lot with type rating costs if they took RJs, but it's just not the same as that Brazilian space shuttle.

flyingice

You can operate whatever aircraft you want to operate on whatever route you want to operate. Right now, you can fly a turbojet on incredibly short sectors and make money doing it because oil is in the crapper.

Tilden can't afford in any way, shape, or form, to let either his capacity slide, or for customer satisfaction to tank. His board won't allow it because simply Alaska is fighting for survival against Delta. I jumped on Delta the other day, and they have a whole section in their inflight entertainment in regards to how important SEA is and what Delta offers in SEA. Delta isn't gunning for second place in SEA...

Which brings me to that little regional airline with a hangar in PDX...

Horizon produces one-third of Alaska's business. You can jump up and down on O/D from SEA all you want and how great it is, but those Q400s buzzing around pump Alaska full of money. And Horizon returns a decent profit for Alaska; better than what SkyWest produces for it's own shareholders. Horizon is feed and profit for Alaska and that is absolutely vital if Alaska wants to survive.

Alaska can not afford to let Horizon disappear. At least not now. If Air Group announced Horizon was being rolled back in any form one way or another, you'd lose over fifty pilots in the first two weeks, and there isn't an ounce that could be used to counteract the affects of that on the schedule. It would be a nightmare for Alaska's customer service and PR. And great ammo for Delta.

Unless Alaska has the capacity to replace half of Horizon overnight...like seriously overnight, they might be stuck planting jets at Horizon and growing the airline.

amcnd

Not a mater of how much Horizon brings to Alaska. But how much adding E175's to Horizon will cost Alaska...

SIUav8er

EXACTLY! Sure, QX is not as unproffitable as they want us to beleive, BUT, it is going to cost a fortune to get 175's online here and I just dont see the AAG board going for it. Regardless of how any sort of new TA with the pilots goes, the simple fact remains that 00 has the ability to easily absorb more E175 flying almost immediately. That is what worries me about this entire situation.

I firmly beleive that 00 will be the regional for AS, and Horizon will die with the Q400. Any city pair which is not profitable (or possible) to serve with the 175, will simply be cut from the schedule.

snackysmores

Welp, say goodbye to brand loyalty from your customers in Bellingham, Eugene, Lewiston, Pasco, Pullman, Remond, Vancouver, Victoria, Walla Walla, Wenatchee, and Yakima lol. Basically everyone in Oregon and Washington not in short driving distance of Portland or Seattle.

This horse is getting beaten to death. If they want to give the jets away, fine, go for it and it will be a good show for sure as Alaska tries to staff 54 planes for an entire year after dishing out a death sentence. It will finally give myself and a few hundred others an incentive to get higher pay, signing bonuses, and new jet type ratings.

Summer is coming BT