Airline Pilot Central Forums - Mesa Shrinking...

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedBaron007 (Post 297174)

Does anyone have any idea where the -200s are going now that they're parked? I've heard there are a few with Delta colors on the ramp in....I think it was CAE (somewhere in SC for sure). Just curious.

Mesa doesn't and hasn't recently (did ever?) fly CRJ 200s for Delta. In CAE there's a pile of Dashes in Delta colors the results of the JFK debacle - Lord knows what they're going to do with them. They were garbage when they bought/leased them, I can't imagine they've improved much with age.

The 200s dropped from the United and US Air contracts I assume some were returned to the lease owner (I know some were since they were under-going "end of lease" maintenance, putting the right engines back on etc.) and I assume that some went/are going to China. Mesa has always been very proud of it's tiered lease arrangements, and at least the US Air drops have been known for some time.

According to an article I just read about conversions of 200's to executive configuration there's is a shortage of 200s available for purchase. I know conventional wisdom is the world hates the 200, but apparently not enough yet to stop flying them.

The thread title is Mesa shrinking, and that's generally true, but keep in mind they'll add 14 (?) "900's" for Delta over the next year and in 2008 take delivery of 10 (?) 700s for United. I must admit to being confused if the 700s are a one for one replacement for current 200s or for some of the 200s dropped end of 2007 (I think they are ongoing 1 for 1 replacements, so that's not growth).

If management is to be believed the 900 flying for Delta is at good margins and the 700 flying at United is also at good margins whereas the 200 flying at United sucks (from a margin point of view). Ostensibly that's the reason they dropped the planes in 2007, but in fact we all know it's because they couldn't staff them.