Airline Pilot Central Forums - Who really has a shot at PNCL's Q400's?

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I really find it hard to believe that nobody is interested in buying the entire Q400 operation from Pinnacle during the bankrupcy. They could basicly buy a turn key operation for cheap money. Certainly alot cheaper than doing the entire certification process for a new aircraft type. I'm still hoping for the Skywest deal to come through.

I say CommutAir is a front runner

GoJet maybe? Oh here we go!

I think Commutair gets them

Then they never fly due to Commutairs inability to maintain them.

Just kidding....love you guys

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Originally Posted by Squawk2112 (Post 1164038)

Commutair easily

Some pretty strong rumors floating around the crew room from some pretty reliable sources is what I hear from my guy at C5.

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Originally Posted by beech_nut (Post 1164126)

I think Commutair gets them

Then they never fly due to Commutairs inability to maintain them.

Just kidding....love you guys

This would be accurate.

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Originally Posted by Cruz5350 (Post 1164043)

What if they just put jets in place of the props until another company can get ramped up to fly the Q's?

Cruz, think about who has available airplanes and crews to be able to just pick up the operation.

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Originally Posted by Flyboy7242 (Post 1164069)

GoJet maybe? Oh here we go!

http://cache.gawker.com/assets/image...bcc18/340x.gif

Oh no you didn't.

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Skywest is a likely suitor, but it does take a long time to get a training program AND proving runs completed.

They are a likely contestant. They face the challenges that you stated but also have the man power to get 30 new airframes up and running. They'll have to do hiring but not as much as a company like C5.

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CommutAir doesn't have a chance. Their owner is extremely greedy and they are SUCH a small operation with only 200 or so pilots. You are talking about a 160% increase in operations in 6 months. CommutAir is out.

I think they have a slight chance, as they are already a DHC-8 operator and for United none the less. The battles they face are staffing the planes (pilots+FA's), upgrading MX and general support (DX, scheduling, etc.) for the airplane. One thing that is not helping them is their on time percentage. I have no idea what it is, but it can't be good with their MX gripes and the 300's were a disaster getting them online but maybe they'll tell United that they learned from the experience and can do better??

I think it would about be what Colgan went through getting these airplanes up and running. Remember Colgan was a small group too when they first started getting the Q's. I don't think C5 or anyone for that matter can get 30 Q's up and running in less than 6 months.

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Mesa has a Dash 8 training program with pretty low 70-seat wages. They could seriously take over this flying with a long-term deal and leases on the airplanes.

See below. Does JO even have the money?

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Republic is a small possibility.

I think they've got a better shot than Mesa personally.

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Pinnacle. There is a good chance that these airplanes don't go anywhere. The BK declaration said that United and Pinnacle were in agreement on a long-term Q400 deal, however, Pinnacle could not submit a competetive bid for the business. If Pinnacle does (and they will) shed a bunch of labor costs via bankruptcy I think you could see a bankrupt PNCL submit a bid to keep these aircraft.

I don't think there's a chance in hell that PCL keeps these planes. Delta has them by the balls with the DIP financing or whatever and part of the deal was to drop the Q400's leaving United scrambling to replace the lift. Pretty smart move on Delta's part, but sad that they play that way.

Quote:

Originally Posted by What (Post 1164147)

Cruz, think about who has available airplanes and crews to be able to just pick up the operation.

Certainly none of the prop operators.