IdRtherBsailing
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 17, 2006
- Posts
- 407
You ask what would happen if the mainline carrier they flew for goes under. I would say they would be better off than the mainline carrier.
I disagree, Republic does not have the infrastructure to sell it's own product. I am not an airline expert but they need their own ticket stock, rampers, gate slots, etc. etc. Even if they were to combine Midex and Frontier's resources they still wouldn't be able to put all 215 planes to good use. Maybe eventually, but starting your own operation is a hard process, ask anyone at Independence. As you also stated, Republic flies for practically every legacy, 88 of their airframes are emb 135/145 or crj 200's, not profitable for stand alone operations. So as my original statement suggests, they would be in trouble if all of those mainline or legacy carriers would go under or terminate their contracts. The only airplanes they have that have a possible value for stand alone are the 170's or bigger, all of which are on contract to other companies.
My point is that their business model relies on the majors/ legacy's that they provide service for. If that would go away they would have to find homes for a lot of airplanes. Maybe that's their plan with Midex and Frontier. If they go on their own and you get on an Emb 190 or an Airbus and the FA says "welcome aboard Republic Airlines", not United Express operated by Republic, or Midwest Connect operated by Republic, then I would agree that they are not a regional.