CO selects Chautauqua as CO Express carrier

CO has selected Chautauqua Airlines (RP) to operate up to 69 regional jets that will be withdrawn from its capacity purchase agreement with ExpressJet Airlines (XJT) and its parent, ExpressJet Holdings Inc., should XJT choose to return those aircraft to CO.

XJT is required to notify CO by Sept. 28, 2006, whether it will return any or all of the aircraft to CO, or continue to sublease the aircraft at increased lease rates from CO and fly them outside of CO’s hubs under a brand other than Continental Express, as permitted by the capacity purchase agreement.

RP, a subsidiary of Republic Airways Holdings Inc., will operate any aircraft returned by XJT as a second Continental Express carrier at each of CO’s domestic hubs – EWR, IAH and CLE. CO will continue to schedule and market all its regional jet service as it does today.

 

Does this mean Chautauqua is going to be the place to be in the future??

 

When Colgan got the contract with CO, they wanted use to eventually fly 70seat turboprops. It seems to be the trend of this industry to continually give more flying to RJ's in the 70-100 seat range, which Republic Airways is very capable of doing. They might start off with only 145's but I will bet eventually we will see the 170's with CO's colors. Republic has started flying the 170 for Delta out of LGA, replacing some of Comair's flying in the last month. They also fly the 170 for USairways and I believe American.

Republic has and still does seem like the place for a quick upgrade!

 

Upgrade for republic is approximately 2 years.
Republic Airways flies for US Airways.
Shuttle America flies United and Delta
Chautauqua flies the rest.

 

An Emb 170 or larger in CAL colors would be flown by CAL pilots. If they should decide to fly them at competitive rates of course.

 

XJT has already said that no matter what they do with the 69 jets, they are not giving them back to CAL. Assuming this is not an idle threat(and it seems like XJT means it), that means the Chautaugua announcement means nothing.

 

Just a small nitpick here. The E170 flying that Republic has at LGA isn't replacing Comair at all. It is new service to ORD and DFW.

 

That's what it sounds like to me.

 

Damn all you Chautauqua (or republic or shuttle america (i thought you guys had the same seniority list anyway)) came out of the woodwork. There's been several post about questions over there, including myself, but no one ever replies? In any case I wouldn't mind myself trying to get on with republic!

Well I saw two 170's in line the other day in LGA, sorry to presume, good luck guys.

 

Just curious as to why it is being reported that Chautauqua will be getting the CRJ's from XJT, when XJT operates ERJ's?

Am I missing something? From what I see, both outfits operate the ERJ's exclusively.