This is USairexpress!!!!! 
Sir Richard is not going to like this.........
Mesa May Lease B737s
Mar 08, 2004 (Commuter/Regional Airline News/PBI Media via COMTEX) -- In
another development that may further blur the line between regional and mainline
carriers, Mesa Air Group is exploring the possible use of Boeing [BA] 737s.
As it reviews future growth opportunities, CEO Jonathan Ornstein said the
carrier is studying the possible use of narrow-body planes in a point-to-point
operation. "In our view, it would appear that the narrow-body aircraft would be
more cost-effective than large regional jets in a low-cost operation outside of
the traditional hub-and-spoke," he told CRAN.
Mesa is considering the merits of leasing B737-300s, which have been configured
to carry 128 to 149 passengers.
Ornstein is not saying just how the regional carrier may use a mainline jet.
However, he was quick to say that any venture would be done in "cooperation"
with one of its code-share partners. He does not see a Mesa pilot flying a B737
for a mainline partner.
Mesa flies regional jets for America West [AWA], United Airlines [UALAQ] and US
Airways [UAIR]
"If JetBlue [JBLU] is right, there are 100 markets that we can fly from. I am
leaning toward an ultra-low cost operation. We are looking at existing models
and the most successful, Ryanair [RYAAY]," Ornstein said.
Don't get confused. Mesa is not taking a page from the Atlantic Coast Airlines
[ACAI] business plan. He said Atlantic Coast's proposed Independence Air is
"flawed" because it is precisely that - independent of its major carrier
partners. Independence plans to fly regional jets and Airbus 319s. Ornstein was
unsuccessful last fall in buying Atlantic Coast.
>>Contact: Jonathan Ornstein, Mesa, (602) 685-4001
Sir Richard is not going to like this.........Mesa May Lease B737s
Mar 08, 2004 (Commuter/Regional Airline News/PBI Media via COMTEX) -- In
another development that may further blur the line between regional and mainline
carriers, Mesa Air Group is exploring the possible use of Boeing [BA] 737s.
As it reviews future growth opportunities, CEO Jonathan Ornstein said the
carrier is studying the possible use of narrow-body planes in a point-to-point
operation. "In our view, it would appear that the narrow-body aircraft would be
more cost-effective than large regional jets in a low-cost operation outside of
the traditional hub-and-spoke," he told CRAN.
Mesa is considering the merits of leasing B737-300s, which have been configured
to carry 128 to 149 passengers.
Ornstein is not saying just how the regional carrier may use a mainline jet.
However, he was quick to say that any venture would be done in "cooperation"
with one of its code-share partners. He does not see a Mesa pilot flying a B737
for a mainline partner.
Mesa flies regional jets for America West [AWA], United Airlines [UALAQ] and US
Airways [UAIR]
"If JetBlue [JBLU] is right, there are 100 markets that we can fly from. I am
leaning toward an ultra-low cost operation. We are looking at existing models
and the most successful, Ryanair [RYAAY]," Ornstein said.
Don't get confused. Mesa is not taking a page from the Atlantic Coast Airlines
[ACAI] business plan. He said Atlantic Coast's proposed Independence Air is
"flawed" because it is precisely that - independent of its major carrier
partners. Independence plans to fly regional jets and Airbus 319s. Ornstein was
unsuccessful last fall in buying Atlantic Coast.
>>Contact: Jonathan Ornstein, Mesa, (602) 685-4001
h34r:
