Skyway dead in the water?

[bg1686]

I heard that Mesa announced on Wednesday morning that they would be taking the routes for Delta that Skyway was hoping to get. I also heard from a Skyway pilot that Jim Rankin announced later on Wednesday that Skyway could expect furloughs. Does anyone know anything about this? I couldn't find any news releases on it.

 

[bg1686]

I found it





Press Release Source: Delta Air Lines

Delta Air Lines, Mesa Air Group Announce Strategic Partnership
Wednesday May 4, 8:00 am ET
Mesa subsidiary Freedom Airlines to operate as Delta Connection carrier

ATLANTA, May 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL - News) and Mesa Air Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: MESA - News) have entered into a strategic partnership whereby Mesa subsidiary Freedom Airlines will become a Delta Connection carrier.

The new Delta Connection agreement provides for Freedom Airlines to operate up to 30 CRJ200 aircraft on routes throughout Delta's network for a period of 12 years, with the first aircraft planned to enter Delta Connection service as early as October 2005. The agreement provides Delta with long-term cost savings and efficiencies gained through Mesa's attractive operating costs and its complementary fleet of CRJ aircraft. Delta Connection carriers already operate the world's largest fleet of CRJ aircraft, with nearly 350 in service throughout the U.S. Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.

In addition, the economics of the agreement allow Delta to place Freedom Airlines' Bombardier CRJ200 regional jets into Delta Connection service in lieu of 30 Fairchild Dornier aircraft previously operated for Delta by Atlantic Coast Airlines (now FLYi, Inc.).

"We are pleased to add another highly cost-effective, customer-focused regional airline to our portfolio of regional carriers," said J.T. Fisher, president, Delta Connection, Inc. "This agreement offers long-term cost savings to Delta and makes it economically attractive to upgrade flying that would have been operated with 32-seat Fairchild Dornier aircraft to 50-seat Bombardier CRJs, an aircraft that is more flexible and effective within our network and existing Delta Connection carrier fleet."

Said Jonathan Ornstein, CEO, Mesa Air Group, "Mesa is delighted to join the industry-leading Delta Connection program and we look forward to providing Delta customers with safe, efficient and reliable service. Delta will be a strong partner and this agreement establishes a strategic relationship that will bring value to Mesa for many years to come."

With the addition of Mesa's Freedom Airlines subsidiary, the Delta Connection program will include Delta's wholly owned subsidiaries Atlantic Southeast Airlines and Comair, regional carriers Chautauqua, Freedom, Republic and SkyWest, and codeshare partner American Eagle (in California). As previously reported, FLYi stopped serving as a Delta Connection carrier in October 2004 in connection with a change in its corporate strategy.

 

[bg1686]

I guess Mesa and everybody's favorite "cork-soaker" (Orenstein) have screwed another airline's pilots out of their jobs. My favorite part about that is that Freedom is going to be doing the flying eventhough Orenstein was supposed to disband that operation.

 

[brew3departure]

This isn't the first time this has happened...

Unfortunately, it all rolls downhill. Many people from ACA/FlyI were furloughed as a result of the decision(s) to park the 328's while their fate was decided. Skyway went ahead and hired a ton in _hopes_ of securing the flying - depending on how you look at it, though, really, that flying would have come at the expense of the former ACA folks. ACA/FlyI furloughed anyway, as they couldn't operate the a/c for Delta once the Airbus program got going.

I hate to see furloughs, especially at Skyway - in any circumstance. It's not like Skyway was already flying routes and they turned around and gave them to Mesa, though. This has happened ad nauseum around the industry in general, and is no better, but aside from training costs that were supposedly paid by Delta for said 328's, there was no agreement in place and, of course, no airplanes were flying yet.

Skyway has some bad luck over the past five years. One of these days, it'll turn around. I know a lot of us are hoping so.

Take care,
-brew3

 

[350DRIVER]

I guess Mesa and everybody's favorite "cork-soaker" (Orenstein) have screwed another airline's pilots out of their jobs. My favorite part about that is that Freedom is going to be doing the flying eventhough Orenstein was supposed to disband that operation.

Feelings and emotions aside it is still a business whether you like or dislike O & company. It is one list now (not two) so that problem was resolved long ago other than the "original" yahoos that crossed over prior to this. The lowest bid has struck yet again, shouldn't come as overly surprising news to many.

 

[chperplt]

I guess Mesa and everybody's favorite "cork-soaker" (Orenstein) have screwed another airline's pilots out of their jobs.

Big O may be a prick, but how did he screw someone out of their jobs? I don't recall reading that Skyway had a contract with Delta. It sounds like Skyway decided to ramp up operatios in the hope they would get a deal. Sounds like a bad business decision to me.

If you want to be mad at someone, I think you should be mad at GG and Delta.

 

[HowlinMadMurdoc]

Big O may be a prick, but how did he screw someone out of their jobs? I don't recall reading that Skyway had a contract with Delta. It sounds like Skyway decided to ramp up operatios in the hope they would get a deal. Sounds like a bad business decision to me.

If you want to be mad at someone, I think you should be mad at GG and Delta.

Dude,

Please refrain from talking about something that you know nothing about. This wasn't a "bad business decision" by Skyway. Who do you think has been paying for newhire training and salaries since last year? Yup, DELTA. Not Skyway. Every 2 weeks, Skyway received a check from Delta that covered training costs and salaries for all newhires brought on property in anticipation of signing a deal with Delta.

So, tell me Mr RIGHT Business Decision Maker, Skyway was wrong HOW? We rolled the dice and took a gamble on Delta. It didn't work out. The REALLY unfortunate aspect is the pending furloughs. But, from a strictly business viewpoint, going through the negotiations with Delta was NOT a bad decision.

In hindsight, and coming from someone who may lose their job, I'm glad we didn't get into bed with Delta. Not only will Delta file BK later this year, which WILL affect YOU, it doesn't say much about Delta with they sign the dotted line with Mesa/Freedom. Realistically, it's YOU and your CMR/ASA brethen I feel pity because Mesa/Freedom is now part of DCI.

Good luck on trying to "undo" that pay freeze in a couple of years.

HMM

 

[chperplt]

So, tell me Mr RIGHT Business Decision Maker, Skyway was wrong HOW? We rolled the dice and took a gamble on Delta. It didn't work out.

HMM

Dude... Sorry you're going to lose your job. That sucks!

I'm glad Skyway made a great business decision and covered their asses. It's too bad for all about to lose their jobs that they didn't have a contract when they hired those people. I hope they told all the new hires they didn't have a contract signed and their jobs were contingent on a Delta deal.


Still sounds like bad business to start ramping up for something they didn't have in writing. Bad for the employees at least.

 

[bg1686]

I agree with that. I was one of the Skyway newhires that got screwed, but a couple of weeks later, I got hired by ExpressJet. What a f&%$#ing blessing in disguise that was.