Away from financial services, Mesa Air's (MESA) Jonathan Ornstein received the most write-in votes by employees, investors and employees of competitors. (It was an impressive, concerted campaign.) Not only does the company suffer the lowest margins and boast the worst-performing stock among regional airlines, with "skyrocketing" pilot attrition (per an Air Line Pilots Association press release), but it recently was embarrassed after a judge ruled that Mesa must pay $80 million to Hawaiian Air for using confidential, proprietary information to start its inter-island Hawaiian competitor, "go!" (Mesa says it plans to appeal.)

http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/...6_FORTUNE5.htm

In other splendid Mesa news:

S&P Equity Research reiterates a Strong Sell on Mesa Air Group (Nasdaq: MESA).

S&P analyst, J. Corridore, says, "We believe recent announcements from major airlines of '08 capacity cuts will make the regional airline operating environment more difficult. We think MESA will have a difficult time winning new business, and think pressure on rates in existing business is possible. We view MESA as stubborn in fighting it out in an unprofitable Hawaii market, and think that battling lawsuits in such markets is likely to eat up needed cash. We are cutting our '08 EPS estimate to $0.45 from $0.65 and our 12-month target price by $1, to $3.00, 6.6X our '08 estimate, below peers."

http://www.streetinsider.com/Analyst...)/3180388.html

As a publicly traded company this might just be what investors need to get J.O packing. Mesa cannot truly afford to loose any more flying in the USA if it is going to remain vital. J.O might be profiting in China but his back yard does not look to good for him. I wonder how he sleeps at night?

Mesa guys and girls keep up your heads up! and sorry to most of you will not be enjoying your holiday vacation.

JO is a small man with an incredibly big chip on his shoulder. He overcompensates for his inadequacies by exhibiting dictatorial rule over "his" minions. In my opinion, Wall Street is only now realizing he is a tool not worthy and not capable of managing large investments. I believe he is most likely done. I guess time will tell.

I wonder what controlling interest in Mesa would cost...just to be able to fire JO and throw him out on his ass.

He has just been awarded a 3-year contract extension by the BOD, and this was AFTER the Hawaiian judgment. I am sure he sleeps just fine on a huge bed stuffed with $100-bills.

Then the Board of Directors are more nutty then he is..... Mesa stock is at $3.50 or less and you let give this dirt bag a 36 more months to drain your wealth.

Delta was stupid enough to award them with a bunch of CRJ-900's. Wonder how long that will last

We just received our first warning from DAL with respect to our 900's. Our staffing seems to be the big concern at the moment for them.

Heck, don’t pay us more just keep spending 10 times that in training costs for all of our attrition (no joke).

JO's arrogance won't give in. Trip over a dollar to pick up a dime. My only wish is to warn people against working there. That would make the regional world a better place.

Ya know, it sure makes you wonder doesn't it?