MDA is a division of the mainline with separate employee contracts and is part of US Airways Group, but will operate under the US Airways operating certificate.
This division should be viewed in the same manner as MetroJet, except with Express pay and work rules. However, there is nothing Express about the EMB-170.
This is a mainline type airplane, with across-the-board Express labor expense, which is how the EMB-170 will have a break even load factor of about 50%, which will make it truly the only low cost carrier competitor (although Song is a pretty good response).
In my opinion, the US Airways brand will have five products: Mainline, Shuttle (combination of A319 for peak flights & EMB-170s for off-peak flights), MDA, and two Express RJ operations -- PSA (unless Piedmont and Allegheny are merged into PSA) and the Affiliates.
In addition, in this months Air Transport World article Siegel said US Airways intends to expand to 20 European destinations. My question is where is the equipment going to come from to double the destinations served?
Respectfully,
Chip