Skywest-DAL Rumor

[LASvegas777]

Heard a Skywest rumor while going to work a few days ago regarding Skywests contract with DAL. The rumor I heard was that Skywest has not renewed there contract with DAL yet or that DAL is not going to renew it with Skywest? Again a rumor which is probally not true, but this is the rumor mill website so anyone else hear something like this?

 

[avrodriver]

Yeah.......I heard the same thing from a Comair Flight attendant (yeah, real reliable , right???), but apparantly the director of flight ops for Comair told a new hire pilot class the same thing (heard that driectly from a friend that just started there). Maybe I'll be eating my words but I think it is the most rediculous thing I've ever heard. Why would they be giving them such signifigant growth in DFW if they are planning on giving them the ax in the near future. If Comair is taking over all the SLC operations do they plan on bringing the EMB-120 back as well then, I'd seriously doubt all the markets out of SLC could be served by the CRJ. I would think that that little strike that pretty much shut down Delta's CVG operation would be just a little bit fresh in thier minds........overlapping between various connection carriers is the latest trend, I wouldn't anticipate Delta putting all of thier eggs in one basket again. If I see any of the contracts being dropped I would think it might be the one with Eagle if Delta wanted to break the current stronghold on the LAX market by UAX and Eagle. One final point, the regional jet is one of the most sought after aircraft today. I have heard from alot of Comair and ASA pilots on this board that they believe it is the intent of Delta to eventually replace all the DCI flying with them. If they dropped any of the DCI carriers that would put a signifigant number of regional jets back the market that I'm sure would be snapped up by someone. If I were Delta, I would want these aircraft working for me instead of handing them over to my competitors to start working against me. -AD ps anyone know when the contract is up?

 

[Russ]

One of the rumours floating around SkyWest is a much larger presence for us on the East coast under DAL colors, out of Cincy. I doubt we will, and for many of the same reasons posted by avrodriver I doubt D will terminate the contract with SkyWest. SkyWest is always at or near the top in performance among connection carriers. Another factor is that SkyWest would not roll over, D would have us as competition in the western market.

 

[skyboat]

Russ-

Be careful what you say, the big D just might buy you! That was one of the arguments I always heard was that DAL didn't want to compete with CMR out of CVG, or share the company with anyone else. Who knows, unfortunately I don't have anyones ear so your guess is as good as mine.

I do believe, though, you will not see Skywest disappear as a DAL carrier. They are too high quality of a company for DAL to give it up.

 

[surplus1]

I thought all of SKYW's turboprops were flying for United? Isn't that true?

I doubt DAL would terminate its contract with SKYW but, if they had any money to spare, DAL might buy SKYW. Right now that's not likely. Didn't DAL sell its shares in SKYW not too long ago for a little over $125 millions?

 

[Russ]

Skyboat
In theory, I am not worried if D did buy us, continued work for one of the more stable majors.

Surplus
SkyWest still runs a small number of Brasilias out of SLC for D. Not a huge number I believe, in the dozen or less range I think.

 

[everyonedoa360]

"avrodriver" has said it all, and I would agree 100%.

 

[120% Torque]

15 Emb 120's for Delta out of Salt Lake serving Sun Valley Idaho (Hollywood shuttle), Jackson Wyoming, Cody Wyoming, Elko and Reno Nevada, St. George Utah (corportate shuttle), West Yellowstone Montana to name a few. Notice many of these destinations are "special airports" with shorter runways and lots of rising terrain. RJ's simply wouldn't work on many of these routes.

 

[everyonedoa360]

120% TRQ,

Well, RJ's already go to RNO and I'm sure EKO would also work with the CL65. However, with the CRJ70, JAC would work too. And maybe even SUN, SGU and WYS. However, I don't think the loads are there for a 70 seat plane to WYS or SUN. I'm sure SGU would be full, but not with anyone paying for that seat

 

[120% Torque]

Of course SkyWest already flys the RJ into Reno. Elko is doable with an RJ (Casino Express takes their 737's in there) and your right the CRJ-700 would work nicely in Jackson. I would not want to take an RJ into SUN, SGU, and certainly a circle to land in COD is narly enough with an EMB. It would be very difficult in an RJ. It would be fun to watch a "big city" RJ pilot shoot the NDB into SUN and fly an instrument or Visual into SGU however! My point is that there are still several destinations out of SLC that are not well suited for an RJ. The Dash 8Q4 would work well I'm sure but that is not the type of growth SkyWest or any other regionals are looking for.