It’s not just the
major airlines that are struggling with the economy.
So are the
regional carriers.
Mesa Airlines said
in an email to its pilots that 53
of them will have to be furloughed. Mesa operates in Arizona, New Mexico
and Colorado, among other western states. Ironically, the carrier is coming off
a quarter where it turned a net profit of $6.3 million. Modest, but a profit, nonetheless.
The airline said
its pilot attrition level was lower than expected. It still operates nearly 70
planes but appears to have a surplus of equipment that it is selling. It’s easy
to extrapolate that you don’t need to pay as many pilots if you don’t have as
many planes.
Many of the jets
have been sold to another regional carrier in SkyWest. Mesa now flies
exclusively with United Airlines under the banner of United Express.
“Given
the current level of attrition and ongoing discussions with United to increase
utilization, we are hopeful to begin recalling pilots prior to the end of the
year,” Mesa CEO Jonathan Ornstein said as part of a statement.
United
has
made cuts to its regional carriers in the past.
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