Just because I repeated it doesn't mean I believe it. While certainly possible, even if this rumor proves true no one who actually knows anything would say anything openly about it. Probably someone said something about Comair being for sale. No shock about this. Then someone else added the thought that maybe it would be for sale as parts/liquidation instead of in its present form and passed it on. Once it had passed through a couple of more people it was no longer speculation but fact.

All I'm saying is while some rumors do prove to be true, something along these lines would be kept very quiet, as it would involve insider information and could affect share prices, etc. Anything is possible, but I wouldn't want to accept it as fact or anything but an interesting rumor at this point.

While I agree that the most likely purchase by SKYW is another DCI carrier(s), I wouldn't rule out a SKYW purchase of American Eagle. Management change there accompanied by restatement by AMR of its desire to sell Eagle. Would give SKYW a third major partner adding diversification. In any case I think we're starting to see significant Darwinism at the regional level occurring. GLTA

+1

Eagle would fit well in the Skywest portfolio of carriers.

Skywest is probably the only one who could come close to affording Eagle anyways. RAH might be able to but they have enough of a CF on their hands already to deal with.

Buying YV would make sense if the could merge it into ASA. ASA would get a good foot in the door at UA with 700s. OO would then take the US 900s for thereselves but only if it would not bring ALPA onto OO.

...and the MAG pilots still wouldn't get to wear cute blazers with gold buttons. :D

I don't see how regionals merging or liquidating and being absorbed by others creates a growth in the regional industry. It creates growth at the airlines on the buying end but not the industry. If anything it shrinks the regionals as the overlap and inefficiencies are trimmed. Not to mention a consolidation of regional carriers would allow them to charge more and turn the same profits potentially doing less flying. Consolidation, unless you're on the end of a liquidation, is good for us.

On another note, I think hoping for the regionals to shrink is pointless. The industry changes with technology. The technology of 2 hours ago was regional jets. As long as that's the most efficient way to carry passengers that's just how it's gonna be. If one day the bigger planes become economical again for the flying the regionals are doing now then we'll see the majors growing and the regionals shrinking. That's just how it is. This is still a capitalist society after all.

SkyWest management have stated that they have no interest in Mesa as an airline due to its debt. They would only be interested in its assets in the event of a liquidation.

AMR has threatened to put Eagle on the auction block before. I suspect it's just a tactic, but if they are indeed serious, then yes, SkyWest Inc. is the only one who can really afford them. Unless they blow their whole wad on other airlines first.

2008 was the last push by AMR to sell off Eagle. Financial Times article reported that Republic and Skywest were both interested parties, but not with the strings AMR wanted to attach to the sale. Maybe now AMR is a little more desperate to cut and run from Eagle?