AirTran Farms out pilot jobs!!!

[Max Powers]

SkyWest Airlines and AirTran Airways Forge Groundbreaking New Partnership

November 4, 2009 12:00 PM ET
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Partnership Increases Frequencies and Destinations from General Mitchell International Airport
SAINT GEORGE, Utah, Nov. 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- SkyWest Airlines, Inc. a subsidiary of SkyWest, Inc. SKYW, and AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings, Inc. AAI, announced today that the airlines have secured a new marketing partnership to operate five 50-seat Bombardier CRJ200 aircraft between Milwaukee's General Mitchell International Airport and six destinations.
Under the new partnership, it is anticipated that SkyWest Airlines will offer new nonstop service from Milwaukee to Akron/Canton, Ohio; Des Moines, Iowa; and Omaha, Neb.; and will add frequency from Milwaukee to Indianapolis, Ind.; Pittsburgh, Pa.; and St. Louis, Mo. SkyWest Airlines will launch its first flights carrying the AirTran Airways' code from Milwaukee to Pittsburgh and St. Louis beginning Dec. 4, 2009.
"Under this new partnership, SkyWest's Milwaukee passengers will enjoy more flights to more destinations with all the benefits of AirTran's vast route network and A+ Rewards program," said SkyWest Airlines President and COO Russell "Chip" Childs. "Together, SkyWest Airlines and AirTran will be committed to providing passengers with exceptional service, on-time flights, low fares and the best possible flying experience."
"This unique partnership and expanded service is an exciting next step for our Milwaukee focus city," said Kevin Healy, senior vice president, marketing and planning, AirTran Airways. "We are delighted to make new and interesting destinations available to our customers and now offer more choices than ever to, from, and through Milwaukee to the rest of the country."
The chart below details the anticipated service out of Milwaukee announced today:
SkyWest Airlines Daily
Destinations Flights Service Details
------------------ --------- ---------------
Akron/Canton 3 Effective January 5, 2010

Des Moines 3 Effective February 11, 2010

Indianapolis 3 Effective January 5, 2010 Omaha 3 Effective February 11, 2010 St. Louis 3 Effective December 4, 2009 SkyWest Airlines' regional jet service between Milwaukee and six destinations will be sold in conjunction with AirTran jet service with revenue shared on a prorated basis. The aircraft will be placed into service between December 2009 and February 2010. SkyWest Airlines will control local availability, authorization levels and use of all seat inventory for the aircraft used by SkyWest. SkyWest Airlines will assume fuel cost and will maintain all revenue and pricing responsibility for these routes.
The new SkyWest-AirTran partnership will increase connection options, choice and convenience for travelers. Tickets are available for purchase at www.AirTran.com or by calling 1-800-AIR-TRAN.
SkyWest Airlines, a wholly-owned subsidiary of SkyWest, Inc. SKYW is the world's largest independently-owned regional airline. Named most reliable CRJ200 operator in the America's by Bombardier in 2007 and 2008, SkyWest was awarded the FAA's AMT Gold Award for maintenance training in 2004, 2005 and 2007, and the AMT Diamond award in 2006. System-wide, SkyWest Airlines employs more than 10,000 aviation professionals and serves a total of 150 cities in 39 states, five Canadian provinces and Mexico with more than 1,500 daily departures. More about SkyWest Airlines and this press release can be found at www.skywest.com.
AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings, Inc., AAI and a Fortune 1000 company, has been ranked the number one low cost carrier in the Airline Quality Rating study for the past two years. AirTran is the only major airline with Wi-Fi on every flight and offers coast-to-coast service on North America's newest all-Boeing fleet. Its low-cost, high-quality product also includes assigned seating, Business Class and complimentary XM Satellite Radio on every flight. To book a flight, visit www.AirTran.com.
SOURCE SkyWest Airlines, Inc.
Copyright 2009 PR Newswire


NOTE: the bold and underline statement shows where we are headed in this industry: Skywest is willing to take on a larger amount of risk, albeit with possible more reward, this willingness makes these type of arrangement even more attractive to business CEOs. Therefore we will lose even more negotiating power at the bargaining table.

 

[maxblast72]

Revenue pro-rate is much more favorable to Airtran than fixed fee per departure is. There is increased revenue potential for Airtran with very little risk. Smaller cities like OMA and DSM to MKE would be very costly to start up with 3 flights a day in a 717 sized aircraft.

We do have to keep our eyes open and not lose focus on scope as there will probably be many desparate regionals willing to take on more of the risk as they lose flying with other legacies.

Considering that Airtran's 717s and 737s have been make about $10 million a month operationally in 2009 (and projected to do close to the same for 2010), I don't see Skywest's 50 seaters as Airtran replacement but a way to go after the smaller markets in MKE and beat on Republic.

 

[Max Powers]

Revenue pro-rate is much more favorable to Airtran than fixed fee per departure is. There is increased revenue potential for Airtran with very little risk. Smaller cities like OMA and DSM to MKE would be very costly to start up with 3 flights a day in a 717 sized aircraft.

We do have to keep our eyes open and not lose focus on scope as there will probably be many desparate regionals willing to take on more of the risk as they lose flying with other legacies.

Considering that Airtran's 717s and 737s have been make about $10 million a month operationally in 2009 (and projected to do close to the same for 2010), I don't see Skywest's 50 seaters as Airtran replacement but a way to go after the smaller markets in MKE and beat on Republic.

Well said Max.....At this point it isn't much of a threat to us and could help our feed in MKE making growth more likely in the future for Us. But they could also put 70 seaters in the mix and pick up some of our routes down the road if this works out. We need 50 seat or less scope protection.

 

[Secret Squirrel]

Ask a continental pilot how the 50 seat limit worked for them. By the time it was done there were 275 rj's flying more departures than mainline. If management can make 1 cent more by farming out all our flying to someone else they will do it. I can see it now, the 717 fleet replacement will be announced as a CRJ1000 being flown by Skywest. And don't think the fact that they are a Non-union shop didn't come into play with Airtran talking about a strike.

 

[Yuppyguppy]

******************** those rjs

 

[Max Q]

Yeah, f(beep)ck em.

Fly them for a couple thousand hours, build some 121 PIC time, then go to a major, and f(beep)ck those RJs.

 

[dh82dvr]

how long before 2 717 flights are swapped for 3-4 rj flights, especially when skywest is on the hook for the cost

 

[TV9Driver]

well considering the stl-mke route was already being flown by a 717, the answer to your question is not very long......

 

[slackass]

How about Air Tran buying or leasing the rj's and making them a junior airframe on one certificate, one senority list? That's how it should have been 20 years ago.

 

[Erlanger]

According to one of the VPs, with this partnership AirTran pilots will be recalled.

http://www.insideairtran.com/?p=2118