Originally Posted by monster900

So does this make Skywest scumbags too for taking planes from Comair?

Originally Posted by ja2c

August 03, 2012

SkyWest plans to add more than three dozen 76-seat aircraft to its Delta Connection service and remove nearly twice that number of 50-seaters as a nod to Delta Air Lines’ push for higher-capacity aircraft among its regional partners.

SkyWest, the parent company of SkyWest Airlines and ExpressJet Airlines, will take on 34 aircraft—five Bombardier CRJ700s and 29 CRJ900s—and shed 66 of its CRJ200s under an “understanding” reached with Delta. SkyWest will take delivery of the new aircraft between August 2012 and June 2013 for Delta Connection service and remove the CRJ200s between August 2012 and December 2015.

Of the 66 CRJ200s, 41 are Delta-financed aircraft and are scheduled to be returned to Delta without obligation to SkyWest, the Utah-based company says.

Of the 34 larger regional jets that SkyWest is adding to its Delta Connection operations, Delta says 18 will come from Delta regional subsidiary Comair, which is being shut down as of Sept. 29. Comair currently operates 15 CRJ700s and 13 CRJ900s.

The other 16 will come from Pinnacle, Delta says. Pinnacle, which is restructuring under Chapter 11 with Delta financing, operates 16 CRJ900s for Delta that are scheduled to be removed from service between January and May 2013; it also has a long-term deal to continue operating 41 other CRJ900s for Delta.

SkyWest CFO Michael Kraupp tells Aviation Week that SkyWest continues to determine its plans for the new aircraft—whether to take over existing financing, sublease them or pursue other actions.

The deal comes weeks after SkyWest expressed resistance to Delta’s plan to encourage its regional airline partners to end their 50-seat regional jet flying before feeder contracts expire. Kraupp told Aviation Week at the time that such an offer would not be acceptable unless an alternative were provided for the CRJ200s. He now says SkyWest is receptive to the deal because 41 of the 50-seaters belong toDelta and he is confident that SkyWest can place its 25 50-seaters “based on opportunities that we are working.” He says SkyWest will not have to park any of the aircraft.

Originally Posted by FLowpayFO

Heard from a reputable source that the CRJ-200's will be converted to mini freighters and will be flown for FedEx with flow up rights beginning mid 2013. (I'm a dirty liar)

Originally Posted by N927EV

I'd bet this is AA stuff. Using yesterday's business model for every other airline, it's the AMR way! Old 50 seaters in need of engine overhauls with the price of oil climbing...Makes no sense, but because of that I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if skypest birds were flying around with chickens soon.

Originally Posted by ShyGuy

Of course not, I am where I am today thanks to one of the lowest paying regional airlines in the industry.


No one is 'better' than someone else. But you're confusing two different industry regimes here. The regional industry is entirely a cutthroat environment. There is no long term longevity or viability at a regional, simply be definition of what a regional is: contract feed. The shortbus carriers, like VX, NK, and Frontier, are all Major/National LCCs that have a business plan in mind that does not feed a mothership. We do not contract our flying out, nor are we dependant on another airline for feed. Don't confuse the business model of a regional with that of a LCC/major.


But again, entirely different model. If VX fails (or NK or Frontier), then you can't really fault them for not knowing the future. No one knows right now if in 10 years that VX, NK, or Frontier will be around. However, when it comes to regionals, the odds are considerably higher stacked against pilots because by definition the regional is doing contract work that is at the mercy of a major airline. The majors want cheap prices, lower costs, so it's a huge difference in the long term prospectus of regional carriers... it just isn't there. Are you willing to gamble your career on a regional outsourced feeder? I know I'm not!


Then you know that your MEC sold you down the river with that memo post-9/11 that held Delta furloughees as hostage. Even crazier that the Comair MEC did not have any recall (heads roll). It would seem people were okay with the status quo. Unfortunately for your colleagues, the Delta pilots (and their MEC) didn't forget.


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I'd also like to copy/paste this post of mine from another thread, and I hope this explains to you why I feel the way I do in regards to regionals:

The industry is simply trying to re-adjust itself back to what regional outsource flying was SUPPOSE to be: cheap labor, where people come in, get their time, and move on. Regionals were never suppose to be a place where lifers would stop there, and push seniority to 20+ yrs for Captains and 10+ years for FOs. Comair's demise is coming from Delta, because it will not be feasible to have a 44 jet operation with the most senior regional pilot group in the country, flying the oldest CRJs in the country with the highest maintenance cost.

Some people think they're suppose to be rewarded for giving a career to a regional, well there's no reward. I remember when I showed up to class at 9E. Clive S walked in and told us to enjoy our time here, get our time, and move on in 5 years. He wasn't joking. That's what they want. Now, true, the economy tanked and hiring slowed, but it doesn't change the long term prospects at a regional.

EVERY regional today has grown at the expense of some other airline that was cutting its planes and pilots. Period. That is fact. At Pinnacle, the 1999 contract-for-CRJs was signed in and over 130 CRJs came in from 2000-2006, while NWA Boeing 727s, DC-9-10s/20s/30s disappeared altogether, along with many NWA pilot jobs. Similarly, Comair and ASA grew tons post 9/11, while Delta put over 1,000 pilots on the streets.

I don't blame GoJet pilots for where they are today. A significant number are United furloughees, who would love to go back to mainline. There are others from Champion, ATA, Aloha, etc, you know, places where ALPA failed to protect their jobs. Not to mention, GoJets was formed by a ruthless owner, in a battle he won against the TSA ALPA who tried to fight without any leverage. ALPA failed. Hulas wanted growth for a certain payrate, and TSA pilots didn't. You then must live with the consquences. This isn't the first time management has stepped around ALPA. Even Pinnacle was screwed when 9E Corp purchased a non-union airline as their driving model for growth, while shrinking (downgrading and displacing) union ALPA pilots at 9E.

Regionals are supposed to be cheap, with low longevity. The likes of Comair, Mesaba/Pinnacle have no place in the industry when you have the highest seniority pilots flying around for high costs. The Compasses and GoJets of the industry, newer regional airlines with very low longevity is where the growth will go. Let it be a lesson, espcially in the Delta Connection system. If you are a regional pilot in the DCI system, no matter what regional airline, you need to plan on moving on. Delta doesn't give a crap about your plans on being a regional lifer. They are going to give airplanes where it is cheapest.

Originally Posted by CyFo145

Good luck competing with Rjet! BB says they have been working with AA for flying thats in its future. Bar keeps getting lower everyday.