Are the 120's used for both United and Delta flying or just the United side?
Just curious? Any talk of replacing them recently?

 

The 120's are being flown on the United and Delta side still. They've been talking about replacing them for years, but don't plan on it anytime soon.

 

The current plan calls for the retirement of 12 (I think) Brasilias by the end of the year. Which is a one for one replacement with the 700's that are being delivered this year. So not a turboprop replacement but a 'fleet revitalization.' It will leave SKYW with 48ish Brasilias by the end of the year. Some in SLC for Delta the rest in the west coast United flying.

Details are 'approximate.'

 

According to KB, UAL is resigning all of our "F4D" 120's through 2011 with options through 2013. According to him we are currently operating 49 EMB 120's (including spares) with 59 on property (had 62 not to long ago). We will sale 10 and no more. The ones to go first are the oldest and those with long Mx histories. There will also be a large increase in block hours this summer. Remember that we had 70 lines in FAT last August and averaged 71-75 throughout the off peak season, mainly due to the addition of OTH and LMT coupled with an increase in block hours related to AE’s Saab’s and Horizons Q2’s being retired. Word from above is no more VLOA’s for 120 folks and we should be understaffed this summer on both the FO and CA side with lines pushing 90++.

Mgmnt noted that back at peak fuel we were losing money on every departure out of SLC and breaking even on the rest. Now the 120’s are making money hand over fist.

Also Mgmnt just inked pro-rate flying for 10 CR2's with UAL on routes that SKW thinks they can turn a very nice profit on with fuel as low as it is. Once again, straight from KB, our overstaffing issues are almost completely resolved thanks to our large increase in EMB flying, additions CRJ flying and RJ VLOA’s.

FWIW..................no press release seeing that it not a pickup in a/c (all 10 CR2’s were park SKW a/c). Also keep in mind that Klen is extremely tight lipped and almost everything said above can be found on SWOL.

 

There has been some talk of the Q coming onto the property.

 

Klen mentioned cost are way too high so no Q's any time soon. I wouldn't expect another TP on property before 2011 but the 120’s will need to be replaced, only with something in the 35-50 seat category seeing that's all most of our EMB markets can handle. Any Q4’s will have to be additional flying.

I expect an EMB-120 NG (35-40 seats) to be announced in 2010...................LOL!

 

Is SKW the last 121 airline to operate EMB-120s in the U.S.?

 

No, Great Lakes has a few.

 

Great Lakes operates the Burito Bomber too!!

 

I thought gulfstream had some as well, I don't know if they got rid of theirs. I know I've seen a couple of cargo operators flying them around as well.