N2rotation

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/95186

Mesa Air Group threw a party for its new joint venture Wednesday, and hogging the place of honor was the first red-, white- and gold-painted Kunpeng Airlines plane.

The 50-seater is scheduled to wing its way to China later this month and start flying people around the vast Asian country on Sept. 16, said Mesa Air CEO Jonathan Ornstein.

Kunpeng is named for “a mythical bird revered in Chinese society,” Ornstein said.

East Phoenix-based Mesa partnered with Shenzhen Airlines to create the regional carrier, which will be piloting 20 50-seat jets prior to the 2008 Summer Olympics, scheduled in Beijing, he said.

Ornstein said Kunpeng could eventually grow to a 200-plane operation. That’s the current size of Mesa Air’s whole fleet today, said Paul Skellon, company spokesman.

“There’s a lot of opportunity there,” Ornstein said. “There are 1.4 billion people (in China), and air travel is in its infancy. There are fewer regional jets in China than in Chicago.”

“There may be a day when Mesa will be a China (based) airline,” he added.

Shenzhen Airlines is the largest privately owned carrier in The People’s Republic of China. Mesa will be the first U.S. company to create and own a big chunk of an airline in the country.

Mesa’s ownership share of Kunpeng is about 25 percent, Ornstein said.

He would not say how much Mesa invested in the venture, but he did say that he expects Kunpeng to be profitable within the first year of operation.

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It looks like Mesa management has started their pre-contract posturing. Nothing like a whipsaw with a foreign communist country. Obviously JO has run out of options in the states and has won very little new flying lately... the quality regionals are the ones that are maintaining the contracts (and pilots).

Don't fall for it guys. This is what management does prior to negotiations... reports sudden strange decreased profits and comes up with threats like China. He's a smooth talker- be careful.

It looks like if you are a Mesa pilot the best two options are this:
1) Leave. If you are an FO I highly, highly recommend making the lateral move to a regional with work rules and pay protection. You'll LOVE it. If you are a Captain, be aggressive with the majors and keep your applications updated. An airline can't fly without pilots!

2) If you are going to stay (for whatever reason) then back ALPA and get involved with negotiations from day one. Increase the pressure and intensity. The rest of us have your back and we'll support you however you need it.... picketing, etc.


I have a bit of an interest in all this because I was at Mesa for a short time. I sure am glad I left Mesa prior to this mess on the horizon. Good luck, fly safe, write it up and don't take NO for an answer. You guys have been looking forward to this for YEARS don't back down an inch.

ERJ Driver

I agree, I agree, I agree. Total posturing... but they were doing it with Freedom-A and it was working. A number of Mesa flights were cancelled and re-assigned to F8-A. Thank god we have scope now- but I don't think it has an international clause in there. We will have to see how this plays out. I am just about ready to move on myself; I just hope the newhires get a quick education in bullshut-detection, and the senior guys throw away the coolaid-dixicups. See ya out at there... "Hey-ho J.O.'s gotta go."

inside0ut

I think the people with balls are walking and half of those who stay dont have the balls to stand up to mgmt and say enough is enough. They like thier senior schedules and dont get touched much and will just ride it out. Kinda sad actually. I dont think things will change at Mesa.

Ellen

It's a difficult decision if you are a senior Captain. Tough to just toss it in with years of seniority built up. Might as well just ride it out and reap as much $$$$ as one can until the ship sinks or things change.

I'm sure most would like to walk, however, there are other decisions that must be taken into consideration for many. For example, Seniority, a Job, Family, Finances, Bills, Domiciles, starting over, benefits, kids education, medical expenses, age, etc . . . .

I can bet, that if none of these were issues for the pilots at MESA, all would walk. It's not just about having "ba!!s," it's about responsibility and practicability too.

If you are a 21-23 year old FO, many of these things do not matter. If you are a 49 year old with a family, things are different. I don't think many would relish the idea of going to work for a SKYW or RAH for $19/hr.

mccube5

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20297896/

i wonder if that is going to effect the mesa operation at all?

RightSeatDude

I agree with your recommendation for FOs. I'm leaving Freedom and going to ExpressJet. I have already given my notice. I couldn't care less what happens in Mesaland anymore. I've done my time. Screw 'em.

rickair7777

Be careful...you don't want JO under-bidding your new employer in a few years. Mesa is the industry bench-mark (at the low end)...we need to support the mag pilots in their upcoming negotiations.

SexyJeny

I am agree with you Ellen .....!!!


My Dad was Furloughed in 9-11 and it has been a night mare since then …..thankfully I got a job on a GV as a CA which help a lot to keep my brother and my Mom and Dad alive.
I feel for those people that are going on this difficult time …!!

SexyJeny

rickair7777

Jenny,

Not to pick on you, but you're new here and most of us are REAL airline professionals. Some of the things you've said don't exactly make sense...I was wondering if you could clarify your flying history to eliminate doubts about your credibility...

Here's why I have doubts...

You sound kind of young, and don't have the best grammar (or maybe it's english is not your first language?)

777 FO does not normally go to super-young pilots in the US.

GV CA never goes to young pilots, anywhere.

If your dad was furloughed on 9/11, then he was likely in the bottom 20% of his seniority list. That would make it unlikely that he was old enough to have a daughter old enough to hold a commercial pilot license, much less old enough to have enough experience to get a GV CA job.

Can you explain for us?

Thanks,
Rick

JetJock16

Also, what happened Jeny? Why couldn't your father get another job regardless of what it was? Why did you have to support the family, or "keep them alive?" LOL

In rough times you should all pull together; your mother, bother (should be old enough if what you say is true) and father should have started working what ever was available.

PS. SexyJeny………. Your grammar is.........? Someone who claims to have your experience should be able to properly piece together a posting. I have no problems with the occasional spelling error but continuous grammar errors tend to raise questions. Slow down and proof read, it will add creditability.