Mesa Air to be first U.S. carrier in China

[a320av8r]

Mesa Air to be first U.S. carrier in China

By Barbara De Lollis, USA TODAY
Phoenix-based regional airline Mesa Air Group (MESA) is set to become the first U.S. carrier to operate an airline within China, the world's fastest-growing air market.
Mesa and Chinese officials are announcing in China on Friday that Mesa is forming a new Beijing-based regional airline in a joint venture with Shenzhen Airlines, China's biggest private airline. Mesa will have a minority stake.

The yet-to-be-named venture could launch by late 2007 and operate 20, 50-seat regional jets by the time Beijing hosts the 2008 Olympics, Mesa Chairman Jonathan Ornstein said.

Mesa flies small jets for major U.S. airlines under brands such as Delta Connection and United Express. Regional jets are used by U.S. carriers to feed passengers from smaller cities to hub airports. The new venture comes as regional jet growth has peaked in the USA.

Ornstein has been eyeing the China market for two years, anticipating Chinese carriers would need regional jets to grow. He expects Mesa initially will help locate aircraft and provide maintenance, training and start-up expertise. Plans call for the new airline to fly 100 regional jets within five years. China now has about 70 regional jets flying for seven airlines.

American (AMR), Continental (CAL), Northwest and United airlines fly to China from major U.S. cities with wide-body jets. But they don't carry passengers within China, the world's most populous country. A large regional airline could help shape China's young aviation system and make in-country travel easier, said Washington-based aviation consultant Mo Garfinkle of GCW Consulting, which wrote the new airline's business plan. China "is the next natural market for RJs," Garfinkle said. "They're a game-changer."

Shenzhen Airlines President Li Kun called the joint venture "an important milestone." The new airline plans to link Beijing and a number of distant, large cities, some of which have millions of residents but no daily air service now.

 

[Non Rev]

The Chinese are just preparing for Mesa's arrival. They must know complaints are about to hit all time highs. Imagine a delay announcement, "Ladies and Gentlemen, flight ### from xyz to zyx has been delayed for 4 days, we have to ship a part from Farmington NM to Shanghai"


China tells fliers: Stop complaining!
China's civil aviation authority is asking fliers to stop complaining about domestic air travel there. Reuters puts it this way: "The food's bad, the airport coffee costs too much, the in-flight service is terrible, the flight's delayed and your suitcase got destroyed in transit -- well, it's your fault for having unrealistic expectations." Indeed, the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China is trying to quell a rising tide of passenger complaints there by adjusting expectations. "We hope to increase consumers' understanding about the special nature of the civil aviation industry, so that together we can create a cosier, more harmonious aviation travel environment," the agency says on its website.

"What must be stressed is that safety is at the root of airline travel, and on-board service revolves around this," it adds. Reuters says that fliers in China "have long got used to surly cabin crew, decrepit in-flight entertainment systems and mysterious delays where aircraft full of people are just left on the tarmac." But Chinese passengers have apparently begun to push back against the airlines –- sometimes refusing to leave late flights until they receive compensation or even storming runways to protest other service breakdowns, according to Reuters. Chinese airlines, however, say that most problems stem from passengers who are unfamiliar about what to expect from flying.

 

[flyhigh]

...this actually seems to be a bigger story. Consider the recent no-go given to Virgin Americe. Imagine 5 years from now a Chinese carrier asking for authority to operate here...what happens when the DOT/DOJ says no. Could be detrimental to Mesa

 

[eolesen]

I just find it humorous that Ornstein had to go to China to find new flying opportunities.

At least he's found an economy where Mesa's wage/benefit package will be attractive.

 

[freedom]

I just find it humorous that Ornstein had to go to China to find new flying opportunities.

At least he's found an economy where Mesa's wage/benefit package will be attractive.

haha so true , i feel sorry for the chinese! now they too will be subject to the ravages of mesa ...

p.s mesa , in case you've forgotten everyone at the former AWA still hates you , and we can't wait to see you go out of bussiness someday . love ya!

 

[SegmentKing]

p.s mesa , in case you've forgotten everyone at the former AWA still hates you , and we can't wait to see you go out of bussiness someday . love ya!

And AWA wouldn't be around if it weren't for Mesa and their loan of over $200 mil back in the '90s...

.. how some people forget....