Conditional? Where are you getting that term from? The Embrear/Skywest said 100 "firm" and 100 optional.

The conditional aircraft I'm referring to was announced in May this year, where SkyWest announced an RFP with United for 40 Ejets. That gave them 40 firm orders for the current generation E175. At that time as well they placed an order for 60 more "firmish" (conditional), with 100 more options. Those 60 are technically firm offers, but should SkyWest not be able to get a partner to fly those for they can pull out the offer. Read the first couple paragraphs in this arcticle.

http://www.sys-con.com/node/2667258

So to clarify, todays anouncement is a completely different order from the one in May in that arcticle, for a new series of the E175, the "E2". Its still 76 seats, but has upgraded wings, landing gear, avionics, fly-by-wire system, and a new P&W engines.

Currently Delta and United allow close to 400 large RJs. Don't forget the United is just ramping up their 76 seat market while parking 50 seaters and the bulk of them are at SKW inc. Delta is adding the last 76 seaters, but by 202 a lot of the current 76 seaters will be close to 15 years old and all of these airplanes are replacements. Inc just bought airplanes that are likely to replace the 700+ it operates today.

Ah I see now. I must have completely missed that. My bad. Carry on.

This is good news for SkyWest, I guess? It's horrible news for all of us that want to get out of regional pilot purgatory and want a real job, where you are treated like an adult and earn adult-type compensation. What this tells me, is that SkyWest throwing a lot of capital out hoping that scope sections relax in the future and quotas for large regional jets increase rather than decrease. At least for DAL and UAL right now, there would not be a home for all of those 175s and MRJs under current scope language. I would hope that AA and Airways would not sell their soul to the devil and follow the lead provided by DAL and UAL. If these orders for SkyWest actually come to fruition, most of us will still be in regional pilot purgatory. Just my $.02...

Ding ding ding!! We have a winner!

You are wise.

I think AA/US won't at this point. That ship has sailed. This order is a fantasy order they will never, ever take full or possibly even partial delivery of. The only way is for a non scope airline like AS or JB or if (when) they get really desperate and try an IndyAir wanna be experiment and they will fail hard on that one. Their maniacal egos will drive them to try it anyway though. Rich people must play with airplanes no matter how much they will lose doing it.

Man, you sure have it in for Jerry Atkin.

Those rich people have been successful, hence why they are rich.

Agree. Is there a story here? Most of these planes are for replacement. I don't get the hardcore hatred towards SkyWest from Gloopy every time they are in the news. What are they supposed to do? Voluntarily go out of business in the hopes that all the flying goes back to mainline?