Pinnacale must be working on putting a package deal for the Airways flying.... before the pie runs out and Skywest has it all..

A few days ago, there was some more mumbling about the company wanting to try negotiating 900 payrates again at PSA. I thought it sounded ridiculous, but after this Mesa BK announcement, it may not be after all.

To all MAG employees!!!
 

On behalf of most of us here on APC, I wish you and your families the best outcome and you now face the uncertain. You have held this company together and your hard work has got you all this far.... No matter the out come you will always be in our thoughts and prayers. Most here do not bash you, but J.O I hope that his actions will catch up with him.

People have some restraint. It only took a day to start the plans of how they're going to divide the flying and by specific airplanes and companies as well. We started at 6 am and it's probably going into the night. They would have filed Chpt7 a long time ago, UA and Airways will have contingency plans but right now there is no reason to expect anything other than normal operations especially since Mesa will probably come out stronger and more competitive to underbid Skywest and RAh. MESA is not going anywhere.

While I don't know what they'll do anymore than the next guy, hasn't Parker wanted out from under the 900's(or at least a good number of them) for years now but was stuck under the contract signed by Franke? The -200's are inconsequential in number and they already wholly-own a Dash replacement if need be. Looking at the general direction of Airways lately, is it possible that they may replace some feed with other carriers/their own aircraft and simply reduce or eliminate service to some of the destinations? Didn't they just eliminate service from Phoenix to Colorado Springs among other cuts? Shortsighted? Yes, but it does seem plausible with Airways.

Delta, US Air and United have all indicated that a future (or a significantly reduced future) with Mesa is not in their interest. How does a contract carrier stay in business without a contract?

I don't doubt that they may hang on for little while longer but the flying that I see them hanging on to will be irrelevant for the number of employees that need a job.

The actual contracts are not up for a couple of more years. Right now Mesa will not be replaced unless they liquidate and who knows what after they emerge out of bankruptcy.

1. It's not Mesa's fault that you went there when you knew how bad it was, now that you're gone you want to see it in liquidation.

2. Even if Mesa were gone tomorrow there will be PLENTY of bottom feeders replacing them with TONS of cash.

This industry does not need another bankrupt airline and 1500 pilots on the street. Read some of the posts by Skywest and US wholly owned pilots. It's just amazing the level of mentality in this industry of; death to MESA so that I can get more dirty RJs for my crappy company for a few more years while I get my time.

You fly for GoJets
You fly for GoJets

You fly for Republics You fly for Republics.

Mesa helped bail AmericaWest (US Airways) out in the 1990s. Now as we have entered Chapter 11, we can only hope that we are as fortunate as they were. I think the operating climate now is so much more difficult, so I'm cautiously optimistic but certainly mentally and emotionally prepared if the bottom drops out. Mesa has been a great run for me, I have no regrets and wouldn't change it for a thing. The flying on the Dash 8 has been unforgettable. Looking through my logbook, I have nearly 1,000 landings in Aspen, Colorado alone. So the mountain flying has been a rewarding aspect of the job and I think it has taught me about certain aspects of flying that I wouldn't have learned elsewhere.

As far as our flying w/ Airways goes, what a sad mess that has turned into. America West used to be such a great little airline that we used to regional feed with. We were their only real regional feeder for years and I like to think we played at least some part in their success as an airline. We seemed to grow and prosper together at the same time. Then they purchased US Airways and became US Airways and the rest is a mess. Every airline that has come into contact w/ US Airways has been destroyed. As a matter of fact, the front page of the Arizona Republic profiled this after the merger was announced. That article has stuck with me because it was chillingly accurate in its forward-looking observations.

Now significant portions of our business is with two struggling codeshare partners: United and Airways. Who knows what will happen with these two carriers. They too have had their experiences with Chapter 11 and still struggle today. Any carrier that buys an intact MAG, hopefully w/ significantly restructured/reduced debt, will be getting a smoking deal in my opinion. I actually think integrating our pilot group would be quite easy. There would be some challenges, but I think most would be gracious for the opportunity.

In the mean-time, we'll just have to kick back and watch how it unfolds. It will be painful for most, but I intend to make it a learning experience as usual. At 32 years old, my gut feeling is that this won't be my last experience with Chapter 11 in my airline career.