Lynx To Cease Ops?

[WalterSobchak]

Just heard from one of my more trusted external sources that Lynx will be ceasing operations in early April. Prior to this latest rumour, it was going around that SkyWest, Inc. was interested in picking up the leases on Lynx's Q400's.

Anyone else heard anything similar?

 

[FlyinPiker]

Republic Airways Announces Fleet Simplification Plan

NDIANAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Republic Airways Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: RJET - News) today announced it will transition the regional service operated by Lynx Aviation Bombardier Q400 turboprop aircraft to Embraer 170 and 190 jet service operated by Republic Airlines. The Company will remove three Q400 turboprop aircraft from service effective April 6. Another three aircraft will be removed from service on April 19. In addition, the Company will terminate the leases of seven smaller regional jets and return them to the lessor.

The transition to jet service will improve the Company’s ability to operate in highly contested markets in which the Q400 operates at a competitive disadvantage to jet service offered by competitors. The changeover, including the decision to terminate the leases on its seven remaining CRJ200 aircraft operated by Chautauqua, also will support the Company’s ongoing program to simplify and optimize its fleet resources across its entire network, improving aircraft utilization and cost efficiencies company-wide. Republic expects operations at Lynx to be phased out by mid-September.


Service will continue to all current Lynx destinations with the exception of Fargo, N.D. and Tulsa, Okla., where the Company will cease operations on April 5.


These changes will result in the reduction in April of approximately 175 positions at Lynx, including flight crews, operations, customer service and support personnel. Most employees affected by this announcement will have the opportunity to continue with either Republic or Frontier in similar capacities. Employees who choose not to accept a position within the Company and who work through their release date will be provided severance.


“Lynx employees have done an outstanding job of providing service to a number of regional communities and have provided important passenger connections to Frontier’s network,” said Republic Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Wayne Heller. “Unfortunately, after extensive analysis and months of efforts to grow the business, we concluded we could not efficiently operate a fleet of 11 Q400 aircraft. Converting service from the Q400 fleet to jet service allows us to better utilize our existing aircraft resources and lower our cost of operating and maintaining multiple fleet types, while providing our customers with outstanding jet service.”
Heller concluded, “These changes will better position the Company to sustain the kind of growth we’ve already begun and that our employees and customers expect as we continue our work to rebuild and expand the Frontier and Midwest networks.”

 

[Lynxman]

Bastards guess I need to change my SN.

 

[WalterSobchak]

Well, there ya go. Didn't have time to look into it further. Thanks for posting the release.

 

[CrownandCoke]

it's true. We're done.

*k you Bedford. *k you.

 

[CX880]

Thats fu@ked up. It says they get to transfer to Republic though.

 

[relief tube]

"competetive disadvantage?" I thought props burned 20 percent less? That to me is a competetive advantage

 

[ABC123]

WTF???? The Lynx guys better be offered jobs at Republic or Frontier

 

[johnsonrod]

So, Republic will use E170/175s to serve Aspen?

 

[Anonymous2]

WTF???? The Lynx guys better be offered jobs at Republic or Frontier

It would be crazy if they didn't get offered positions. But hopefully they do.

 

[IBNAV8R]

So, Republic will use E170/175s to serve Aspen?

THAT will be interesting to see.

 

[WMUSIGPI]

So, Republic will use E170/175s to serve Aspen?

Not if they want to survive the missed approach.

 

[Uncle Bunkle]

Thats fu@ked up. It says they get to transfer to Republic though.

Ummm....no, it doesn't. It says:

In September, when Lynx ceases operations, some customer service and maintenance employees will have the opportunity to continue with Republic or Frontier. The remaining positions will be eliminated and given hiring preference for open positions throughout the Republic Airways network.

That part about "hiring preference" will apply to flight crew.

 

[amcnd]

Get in line behind the Midwest guys/gals.. Whats going on with them. Any of the Midwest pilots at Republic???

 

[bizicmo]

Not if they want to survive the missed approach.

That's simple, just don't go on the missed approach, runway in sight always.

 

[The Drizzle]

Ummm....no, it doesn't. It says:

In September, when Lynx ceases operations, some customer service and maintenance employees will have the opportunity to continue with Republic or Frontier. The remaining positions will be eliminated and given hiring preference for open positions throughout the Republic Airways network.

That part about "hiring preference" will apply to flight crew.

Despite what the company might want, the Lynx pilots were "active" at acquisition. I'd imagine that they'd be integrated just the same.

 

[SkyW120]

What airports does Lynx go to now?

 

[djsk]

What does that Q burn the first hour? The 170 burns around 5,000 the first hour. Fuel is going to go back up....

 

[BoilerUP]

What does that Q burn the first hour? The 170 burns around 5,000 the first hour. Fuel is going to go back up....

You just know you want to take the Chalupa Bomber into ASE with 70+ pax in the middle of winter...

 

[amcnd]

It takes more then 25 planes to break even on one type.. MX/parts/training..ect I guess they didnt want to invest in more Q's. 11 airplanes just isnt enough...

 

[Metro752]

Then how did Lynx operate?

 

[Minimaniac]

In regards to jobs, the Lynx pilots will still end up on the RAH seniority list through the SLI process, due to be completed in May. The press release does not address pilots only. HR, Mx, and other non-union, non-flight crew positions will be given preferential hiring. The world is bigger than just us, guys and gals.

As said above, the fuel cost savings of the Dash over any RAH jet are significant, but they apparently do not outweigh the cost of having separate mechanics, pilots, training departments, HR staff, and operating certificates.

On the surface, I think the majority of us think that dropping Lynx will be damaging for the brand. The Lynx aircraft were good for most of the flying they did, and certainly right for the tight mountain airports. No jet will do the job as well as the Q400. Operationally, this feels wrong. It is apparent that Bedford has a very exact opinion of how the final brand will look, but unfortunately we only see it one piece at a time. Reducing the Midwest/Frontier brands to a single brand feels correct. Losing prop lift to high yield, operationally demanding airports feels wrong. Bedford has been pretty transparent about his disdain for props, though. He did not pursue the Continental Q400's despite requests and interest from CAL. He is dropping a successful prop operation. I guess we shouldn't be surprised, but it seems illogical. I would have thought that after acquiring an established Q certificate, BB would have tried to grow the fleet and take advantage of other Q400 business opportunities. This may be one of the more notable blunders of BB's recent efforts.

 

[WayBack]

Gotta love RAH!

On the flip side, I'm glad this pro-union President is preserving Union jobs. I guess Lynx didn't get added in the stimulus package.

I hate this industry.

 

[JoeMerchant]

Gotta love RAH!

On the flip side, I'm glad this pro-union President is preserving Union jobs. I guess Lynx didn't get added in the stimulus package.

I hate this industry.

Only Rez and PCL128 believed Obama would be good for us....

 

[WayBack]

Only Rez and PCL128 believed Obama would be good for us....

Only Rez and PFT128 believe ALPA can save/prevent airlines from shutting down.
I guess they don't talk to the ATA, Aloha or Midwest pilots much.

 

[WSurf]

You mean to tell me flying planes that burn less fuel along with crewing them with pilots that don't make crap for money, just doesn't work??? LOL, wow... Guess payrates really don't mean anything at all. Good play and Q400's seem to work over at Horizon.

 

[WayBack]

You mean to tell me flying planes that burn less fuel along with crewing them with pilots that don't make crap for money, just doesn't work??? LOL, wow... Guess payrates really don't mean anything at all. Good play and Q400's seem to work over at Horizon.

Honestly, no pilot pay doesn't play a "survivor" roll at an airline. Ask anyone who has been VP of Ops or President of an airline.
It's just a game move in the game between management and union.....which the union always loses.
What happens after pilots take a pay cut? In victory against the idiot union pilots, they give themselves a multi million dollar bonus. It's happened in EVERY pay cut.

 

[amcnd]

Then how did Lynx operate?

How did anyone operate .. You have to start somewere.... The did have 10 more on order.

 

[Jetjockey]

NO US president can prevent Capitalistic greed.

 

[WalterSobchak]

NO US president can prevent Capitalistic greed.

This. A million times over.

There's Capitalism. Then there's incomprehensible greed. The pursuit of the latter is slowly destroying the former.