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.

 

I would like to see this argument thrashed out a bit more since I have seen it before and don't understand it... while I am not rah rah ALPA, I don't particularly see the conflict of interest. Why would a United pilot care if ALPA was supporting an express carrier pilot in the quest for a better contract? In fact, in the ongoing pursuit of shoring up pilot pay scales and QOL I think this would actually be in their interest rather than in conflict with it. The APA example is apples and oranges with this argument as well because American is a Legacy not an express carrier. Just wondering in the spirit of good faith is all, not looking to start any flame battles...