ConnectionPilot

Next year is 5 years since Skywest purchased ASA from Delta correct? I was told that Delta has an option to buy them back within 5 years. Correct me if I am wrong.

Lighteningspeed

I'll give you credit for that. Those are all possible scenarios. The merger between Comair and Mesaba is unlikely. Both have way too many senior pilots. In other words both are top heavy in terms of labor rate. DAL has been trying to sell off Comair without any success. It's unlikely they would combine Comair with Mesaba which, by the way, will be a very attractive buy by the time DAL is done getting rid of all its Saabs and replaced with all jets.

As for selling Compass to RAH. I doubt that. Unless of course RAH agrees to pay everything DAL asks for.

Mesabah

Yes, they do, and they are extremely flexible to the mainline.

ConnectionPilot

Though RA might want to give Bedford what he wouldn't give him at Mesaba, growth.

USN(Ret)

Well it's only 134nm for one thing. Doesn't seem too efficient for a RJ.

ATL is 296nm.

City in question, is PAH btw.

The Farang

So let me get this straight. Delta has contracts with itself? Does that mean it will sue itself for breach of contract?

bored

Now I know the FARANG is full of crap. When XJ first started to paint saabs into the new NWA scheme back in the 2003-2006 timeframe, 106 was the first plane into the shop. Apparently, the plane was improperly painted by the previous owners and when XJ sent it to paint the corosion was found. None of this happened to the B+ saabs, that are still in their original paint scheme, which was done by saab. That was the explanation given to the employee group several years ago. It has somehow turned into this wild urban legend that has so many people misinformed. I had a mechanic, who wasn't even at XJ when this all happened, try to tell me some garbage story about how all the B+ saabs have corosion and that's why they're getting DL paint. Blah blah blah...

As to why the XJ 200s aren't getting painted right now. Ever think of this? Well... they're the NEWEST ones with the newest paint. The Pinnacle ones need the paint more. Not to mention, the paint facility in GLH already painting NWA narrowbodies, CP 175s, 9E 200s and the XJ 900s.

As to your source about the saabs being parked. WE ALL KNEW months ago the first 10 were going. No surprise there. Yawn... a Compass sale to RAH and a Comair/Mesaba merger. Those rumors are so old, it's tiring reading about them again.

Mesabah

Yes, DAL has an ASA with DAL mainline. Delta has a holiding company that has contracts with all its subsidies. NWA has an ASA with DAL holdings, where have you been the last 10 years of airline flying?

The Farang

So you're trying to tell me there is a DELTA CORP is a holding company whose principal subsidiary is DELTA Airlines INC? Like United CORP ---> United Airlines Inc?

Lighteningspeed

Everything Bored told you is correct. There is a parent Holding Corporation that owns Delta Airlines. In turn, DAL owns NWA, and by that ownership now owns Mesaba and Compass in addition to Comair which DAL owned before the merger.

This is why RA has to answer to the Board of Directors of DAL who are also members of the elite that runs the parent Holding Corporation.