Republic Airlines will begin flying four of their ERJ-170s on trans-island routes in Hawaii under a code share agreement with Mokulele Airlines early in 2009. Republic has been aggresively and succesfully expanding their code sharing agreements in the US on several fronts.
Memphis-based Pinnacle Airlines turned a $7.7 million profit in the third-quarter of 2008. Pinnacle provides lift for Delta Airlines and Northwest Airlines and will continue to do so for the newly merged duo who will operate as Delta Airlines.
US regional airline industry may benefit from a new presidential administration, but the difficult operating and economic environment will continue to pose problems, speakers said yesterday at the SpeedNews Regional & Business Aviation Industry Suppliers Conference in Indian Wells, Calif.
Regional Airline Assn. VP-Legislative Affairs Faye Malarkey said the body is hopeful that Barack Obama’s incoming administration will be a catalyst for needed legislative relief. She said Obama has stated publicly that air traffic control modernization is a “high priority,” although a potential drawback to the new administration might be a greater willingness to side with unions in labor disputes. Nevertheless, she said new leadership will “change the landscape of some of the political discussions. I can’t imagine the new DOT could be any worse than the old DOT.” She called the department’s effort to relieve congestion at New York area airports by imposing slot auctions “insane” and expressed hope that Congress will block them in any impending economic stimulus legislation.
Hear from industry expert Kit Darby. He discusses the cyclical downturn that we are experiencing and the fact that we’ve seen this before and know hiring will return. He also stresses that this is the time to begin flight training so that prospective pilots will be qualified to enter the market when hiring increases in the near future.
American Eagle, Pinnacle Airlines and Mesaba Airlines were in attendance recently at Job Fare in Chicago looking for recruits. They reported that:
American Eagle will begin interviewing and hiring pilots beginning in the first quarter of 2009.
Pinnacle Airlines will begin hiring again in early 2009.
Mesaba Airlines is hiring now and will continue to do so into 2009.
Over 30 graduates of ATP’s Programs have been hired by the Regional airlines and Corporate Operaters over the last 60 days despite economic conditions in the US.
Republic Airways will provide an $8 million line of credit to Mokulele Airlines and place four of its Embraer 170s with the Hawaiian carrier in November. The intra-island Mokulele will operate the 70-seat regional jets using crew from the Indiana-based regional. It will also hire some workers who were laid off when Aloha Airlines shut in April. Mokulele now flies Cessna Caravans. The Embraers, assigned to Republic subsidiary Shuttle America, had been flown for Frontier Airlines.
U.S. regional carrier Republic Airways will extend its reach beyond simply operating flights for US Airways and will loan them up to $35 million.
Air Wisconsin became the second Regional Airline to loan $35 million dollars to US Airways this month. Air Wisconsin operates as US Airways Express and flies the largest fleet of planes deployed by US Airways.
It’s not just the CRJ or the ERJ that you may be flying when you get that dream job with a US regional airline. The Chinese are entering the market here in the US to compete with Bombardier and Embraer for business with their ARJ21 which looks like a dream to fly. With their first 200 ARJs scheduled for delivery here in the US we should see them soon. Mitsubishi (Japan) and Sukhoi (Russia) are also developing RJs designed to compete with the CRJ700/900 and the ERJ 170/190 in the US and abroad.