inflightboi175
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Lynx Aviation, the regional turboprop carrier that feeds Frontier Airlines' Denver hub, will cease to exist by mid-September, throwing 400 jobs into jeopardy.
Lynx employees were told Thursday about parent company Republic Airways' plans to continue the air service with small Republic jets instead of the Bombardier Q400 turboprops operated by Lynx.
"Everybody knew it was coming. Now we know what the dates are," said one employee who asked not to be identified out of concern for his employment. "Now we're just another Colorado name that's gone. The name is still there, but the heart is removed."
Republic officials said the transition will improve the company's ability to operate in highly contested markets.
The move is part of the Indianapolis-based holding company's program to "simplify and optimize its fleet resources across its entire network, improving aircraft utilization and cost efficiencies companywide."
Service will continue to nine of the 11 current Lynx destinations. Operations to Fargo, N.D., and Tulsa, Okla., will stop April 5.
Furloughs will begin in early April for about 175 employees, including pilots, flight attendants and personnel in operations, customer service and support.
Lynx has about 400 employees. Of its 120 pilots and 110 flight attendants, 40 in each group will be retained until September, when remaining Lynx employees will be furloughed.
Company spokesman Peter Kowalchuk said Lynx employees will be given the opportunity to continue with Republic or Frontier and will receive priority hiring. Those who don't stay on will be given severance.
The Republic-owned jets — 70-seat Embraer 170s and 98-seat Embraer 190s — will be flown by Republic pilots.
Three of Lynx's 11 turboprops will be replaced by jets April 6, and three more will be replaced April 19. They will be sold. The remaining five will remain in service through Labor Day, with four flying and one used as a spare.
Lynx employees have done an outstanding job, said Republic chief operating officer Wayne Heller.
Converting 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 said.
Lynx began flying in December 2007 as a subsidiary of Frontier and became a subsidiary of Republic when Frontier was acquired out of bankruptcy Oct. 1.
Lynx employees were told Thursday about parent company Republic Airways' plans to continue the air service with small Republic jets instead of the Bombardier Q400 turboprops operated by Lynx.
"Everybody knew it was coming. Now we know what the dates are," said one employee who asked not to be identified out of concern for his employment. "Now we're just another Colorado name that's gone. The name is still there, but the heart is removed."
Republic officials said the transition will improve the company's ability to operate in highly contested markets.
The move is part of the Indianapolis-based holding company's program to "simplify and optimize its fleet resources across its entire network, improving aircraft utilization and cost efficiencies companywide."
Service will continue to nine of the 11 current Lynx destinations. Operations to Fargo, N.D., and Tulsa, Okla., will stop April 5.
Furloughs will begin in early April for about 175 employees, including pilots, flight attendants and personnel in operations, customer service and support.
Lynx has about 400 employees. Of its 120 pilots and 110 flight attendants, 40 in each group will be retained until September, when remaining Lynx employees will be furloughed.
Company spokesman Peter Kowalchuk said Lynx employees will be given the opportunity to continue with Republic or Frontier and will receive priority hiring. Those who don't stay on will be given severance.
The Republic-owned jets — 70-seat Embraer 170s and 98-seat Embraer 190s — will be flown by Republic pilots.
Three of Lynx's 11 turboprops will be replaced by jets April 6, and three more will be replaced April 19. They will be sold. The remaining five will remain in service through Labor Day, with four flying and one used as a spare.
Lynx employees have done an outstanding job, said Republic chief operating officer Wayne Heller.
Converting 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 said.
Lynx began flying in December 2007 as a subsidiary of Frontier and became a subsidiary of Republic when Frontier was acquired out of bankruptcy Oct. 1.
