MESA late paying airport fees, problem seems to be widespread
 

A thread is going on at Airlines.net right now (so take it with a grain of salt) that MESA has been late paying airport fees at Durango airport and that they have been having problems with hotels, and even with Flight Safety, having to pay flight safety upfront. Also Mesa has 36 million in bonds that will be callable in june, but market cap is only 14 million, seems like the end is near, I hope that mesa crews have made plans.

http://www.airliners.net/aviation-fo....main/3960352/

This does not surprise me. I have heard of guys showing up for their checkrides at the CVG Flight Safety (CRJ200&700 sims) only to be turned away because the company had not been paying their bills for the simulator time.

Its sad the industry is down to this, if anyone has over 5000 Total time 1000 Turbine PIC PM me, I can suggest a place if you are willing to go overseas.

Yep...

Mesa late paying Durango airport bills
Director of aviation says company owes about $59,000 in rent, fees


April 16, 2008
By Ted Holteen</STRONG> | Herald Staff Writer

Reflecting the financial troubles plaguing the airline industry, Mesa Air Group is late on its bills to the Durango-La Plata County Airport.

Director of Aviation Ron Dent said Mesa owes approximately $59,000 in terminal rent and landing fees, which he said represents about two months in charges. Mesa Air Group is the contracted carrier for US Airways for the Durango to Phoenix connection.
Dent said this is not the first time Mesa has fallen behind on its payments since the carrier lost an $80 million lawsuit to Hawaiian Airlines in October. The lawsuit found that Mesa-owned go! airlines illegally undercut fares against the established Hawaiian Airlines to gain market share on inter-island travel in Hawaii.
"They get behind, we chase them and then they pay us," Dent said of the recent pattern between Mesa and the airport.
A call to Mesa Air Group's Phoenix media-relations office was not returned Tuesday.
Dent said with the unstable financial situation in the industry, the airport commission may consider requiring Mesa to pay a three-month security deposit to cover future delinquencies. The commission will hold its regular monthly meeting at 3 p.m. Thursday.
Dent wouldn't speculate about the future of the carrier, but he said the airport has relied on Mesa for about one-third of the local air service from Durango. United Express currently provides service to Denver and Delta Airlines connects to Salt Lake City.


All of the carriers now serving Durango have seen their stock prices plummet in the last year. United stock fell from a 52-week high $51.60 per share to $22.32, and Delta stock has fallen from $23.25 to $9.16 during the same period.
Last week, Denver-based Frontier Airlines declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy, but officials said the anticipated thrice-daily service to Denver from Durango will commence as planned April 22.
A comparison of Frontier and Mesa stock may be a better indicator of Mesa's future. In the last 52 weeks, Frontier stock topped out at $7.46 per share and closed at 78 cents on Tuesday. In the same period, Mesa stock has fallen from an $8.02 per share high to its Tuesday closing price of 60 cents.
Dent said the addition of Frontier to the airport makes Mesa all the more valuable to keep prices competitive.
"It's hard for us to say they can't come here anymore - we just don't want to get behind," he said.

http://durangoherald.com/asp-bin/art...iz080416_1.htm

ERJ Driver, you should have taken my advice. Mesa is collapsing. If you would have left Mesa back when the trouble was starting, you might have been close to Captain at another regional by now.

The regionals hiring is slowing, and with qualified pilots on the street from ATA, Champion, etc., it will get even more tight. Better get on with someone now before you have to drive a truck.

All hail the all wise Texaspilot! Can you tell me who to bet on at the Derby this weekend? :rolleyes:

I think they all get the picture at this point dude.

The sky is falling!

Who do you think you are? Advice is one thing, but your condecending tone is ubsurd.

Thanks for the info Nostradamus.