islandhopper
Clone War veteran
- Joined
- May 9, 2003
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Breaking: Delta Talking to Republic After Mesa Can't Provide Aircraft
http://www.planebuzz.com/delta%20airlines-tm.jpg
Sources tell us today that Delta Air Lines has asked Republic Holdings to backstop for competitor Mesa Airlines -- because of Mesa's inability to provide aircraft as provided for in its contract with Delta for part of its expanded JFK service.
Under an agreement between Delta and Mesa, Mesa, under its Freedom Airlines operation, is slated to fly 12 37-seat De Havilland Dash 8 aircraft in support of Delta's expanding hub operations out of JFK.
But this week it was announced that Delta was replacing Dash-8 aircraft with Beech 1900s on several Delta Connection flights that are slated to begin next week. Additional new service is slated to begin in September.
Yeah. That's right. Beech 1900s. Goes right along with Delta's latest advertising image of a "sanctuary in the sky" doesn't it?
Today we were told by sources that the problem appears to be that Mesa apparently leased Dash 8 100s from a Canadian lessor. Fine, but one big problem. The aircraft did not have GPWS kits installed.
We understand that Mesa now has one aircraft equipped with the necessary GPWS, but that availability of additional GPWS systems for the aircraft is nil. None to be had. Maybe for months.
As a result, Mesa apparently has only one Dash 8 and 2 1900s available to start the new Delta Connection service out of JFK next week.
Not surprisingly, we understand the folks at Delta are none too happy about this situation. They are so unhappy, in fact, that we understand they have contacted Republic Holdings about providing aircraft.
As one of our sources told us, Republic would certainly have no problem getting 10-12 Embraer 135s up and running to provide feed -- if that is what Delta chooses to do. Tuesday, Republic folks were told, according to one source, "to ramp up."
Not sure how all of this is going to work out -- but it's clear Delta does not want to run its new highly-touted JFK service utilizing Beech 1900s.
As for Mesa, it's clearly not a good week.
This news comes the same week load factors for its new "go!" Hawaiian operation came in lower than what the company had previously indicated. Load factor for July was 73.9%. Not surprisingly the airline promptly announced yet another fare sale for its Hawaiian operation after the traffic numbers were released -- with select $29 one-way fares through the end of the year on sale through the end of this week.
Finally, Mesa posted poor numbers in the DOT Air Travel Consumer Report for June that was released this week. Not only did the airline post a 5% cancellation rate in June, it also posted the most complaints of any airline. On-time performance for the airline was 66.7%.
http://www.planebusiness.com/
Breaking: Delta Talking to Republic After Mesa Can't Provide Aircraft
http://www.planebuzz.com/delta%20airlines-tm.jpg
Sources tell us today that Delta Air Lines has asked Republic Holdings to backstop for competitor Mesa Airlines -- because of Mesa's inability to provide aircraft as provided for in its contract with Delta for part of its expanded JFK service.
Under an agreement between Delta and Mesa, Mesa, under its Freedom Airlines operation, is slated to fly 12 37-seat De Havilland Dash 8 aircraft in support of Delta's expanding hub operations out of JFK.
But this week it was announced that Delta was replacing Dash-8 aircraft with Beech 1900s on several Delta Connection flights that are slated to begin next week. Additional new service is slated to begin in September.
Yeah. That's right. Beech 1900s. Goes right along with Delta's latest advertising image of a "sanctuary in the sky" doesn't it?
Today we were told by sources that the problem appears to be that Mesa apparently leased Dash 8 100s from a Canadian lessor. Fine, but one big problem. The aircraft did not have GPWS kits installed.
We understand that Mesa now has one aircraft equipped with the necessary GPWS, but that availability of additional GPWS systems for the aircraft is nil. None to be had. Maybe for months.
As a result, Mesa apparently has only one Dash 8 and 2 1900s available to start the new Delta Connection service out of JFK next week.
Not surprisingly, we understand the folks at Delta are none too happy about this situation. They are so unhappy, in fact, that we understand they have contacted Republic Holdings about providing aircraft.
As one of our sources told us, Republic would certainly have no problem getting 10-12 Embraer 135s up and running to provide feed -- if that is what Delta chooses to do. Tuesday, Republic folks were told, according to one source, "to ramp up."
Not sure how all of this is going to work out -- but it's clear Delta does not want to run its new highly-touted JFK service utilizing Beech 1900s.
As for Mesa, it's clearly not a good week.
This news comes the same week load factors for its new "go!" Hawaiian operation came in lower than what the company had previously indicated. Load factor for July was 73.9%. Not surprisingly the airline promptly announced yet another fare sale for its Hawaiian operation after the traffic numbers were released -- with select $29 one-way fares through the end of the year on sale through the end of this week.
Finally, Mesa posted poor numbers in the DOT Air Travel Consumer Report for June that was released this week. Not only did the airline post a 5% cancellation rate in June, it also posted the most complaints of any airline. On-time performance for the airline was 66.7%.
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