Has anyone heard about this? Skywest and AA
 

I had a friend just tell me this. He had no source other then he heard it from a friend. (So just a huge rumor to me right now)
He said that the Skyewest deal with AA to fly the 900's fell through last week and they are looking searching again for an operator.

He also told me that the BK team at AA hired Menke as a consultant.

Can anyone confirm any of this or have you guys heard about any of this? Sorry for the Wild rumor.

Who's your friend Chip Childs?

No idea who that is. He has nothing to do with either company. He is a manager for US Air. Not upper Management either. But he sad this is what he has heard. Just wondering if anyone else has heard this. I have not paid attention to what is happening over there because I have enough to worry about.

In the current climate, finding homes for CRJ900s is easier than a fat girl at prom.

Easy, but not that easy! If you shy away from SKW holdings you will be left with Mesa and GoJet. Everyone else is either holly owned, Delta's b*tch or having to introduce a new type and open new bases with airlines that offer a substandard product. Is not hard to find an operator, but is hard to find an operator who will give you the service you seek at the price you want.

I could actually see Skywest putting a value on the 900 flying and AA saying it is too expensive and walking away (they DID just get a pilot group to agree to an 8 year concessionary contract).

My understanding was that AA got Skywest to do the -200 flying at a steal of a price, maybe even to operate at a loss for Skywest. They did that because Skywest knew those -200s were going to get parked and getting a carrier to agree to 50 seat flying when it is now the redheaded stepchild. With the -900s and other "Large RJ" airframes being the desired model of regional flying, Skywest can actually put a fair price on it, which probably shocks AA and thats why they walked away.

There are other -900 operators out there who could do it for less and thats probably why it fell through.

Just my thoughts.

Your "understanding" about the 200s is incorrect. If you think SkyWest Inc will ever bid a contract below cost, you know nothing about SkyWest Inc.

IF (big if) this rumor about the 900s is true, it's probably because SkyWest named their price and AA shot it down. Which means they either go back to the table, or SkyWest places the airplanes with someone who WILL pay the asking price.

Go ahead and name a few.

It's common knowledge that they bid the Airways flying under cost. Only way they can do it cheaper than Mesa.

Careful paxhauler... we're dealing with a badass here.

Tony - as I said, they got it for a steal of a price - MAYBE at a loss. The general understanding at AA/AE (where I work) is that Skywest operates them at a loss. Now, over on the Skywest side, they may be taking AA to the bank for what they are charging. Who knows, but with the current climate of 50 seat flying, the price to operate those -200s would have to be pretty low, don't you think? Especially since the Skywest LAX deal is only a 4 year contract.

Has anyone heard about this? Skywest and AA
 

I too was told by a SKW friend that they took the US Air flying at a loss just so Mesa wouldn't get it.