Republic Airways Eyes Shuttle America Certificate
INDIANAPOLIS (Aviation Daily) - Republic Airways Holdings is considering acquiring Shuttle America’s operating certificate as fines it must pay to American are mounting and the long-awaited certificate for its Republic Airlines subsidiary is still not on the horizon. The president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) Local 747 division representing Republic Airways Holdings subsidiary Chautauqua Airlines wrote to company CEO Bryan Bedford recently asking how the carrier’s contract would govern any potential combining the two carriers after Republic Chief Operating Officer Wayne Heller told Chautauqua’s employees he was thinking about obtaining the Shuttle America certificate. IBT noted it was “looking forward†to negotiations regarding a union of the Shuttle America and Chautauqua contracts “on those provisions affecting the combined work force.â€
The union also formed a merger committee to meet with Shuttle America’s pilots to agree on a combined seniority list. A source close to the union said Republic Airways Holdings might have an interest in shifting Embraer 170 flights from Chautauqua to avoid penalties it is now paying American. American’s pilots argued that Chautauqua’s 70-seat flights flown as United Express violated scope clauses in their contract that prevent American Connection carriers from flying planes with more than 50 seats. Eventually, American’s management settled its pilots dispute.
Part of the resolution required Republic Airways Holdings to pay American fines until Chautauqua’s sister carrier, Republic Airlines, obtains its operating certificate from FAA. Republic Airways Holdings paid about $300,000 in penalties during the fourth quarter of 2004 (DAILY, March 4). After the Chautauqua settlement, American Connection carrier Trans States had to agree not to fly planes with more than 50 seats; Trans States then opted to launch GoJet to fly 70-seat jets for United Express. Republic Airlines was originally supposed to fly the Embraer jets, but certification delays prevented its launch.
The airline’s original certification target was July 2004. Bedford recently said the carrier was targeting a June certification,but transitioning the 170s to Republic would take some time (DAILY, March 7). Unlike Republic’s woes in getting its FAA nod, a GoJet spokesman recently said efforts to launch the airline are “moving along quite nicely,†and the carrier should start proving runs the spring or summer to ensure its August launch (DAILY, March 15). Republic Airways Holdings lost a bid to fly additional 170s for United after the major carrier inked deals with SkyWest and GoJet earlier this week. Republic bid only on a portion of the 70 aircraft, offering to fly 15 additional 170s (DAILY, March 4).
At that time Bedford said United asked Republic to enlarge the bid, and Republic was “evaluating that.†Wexford Capital owns the majority stake in Republic Airways Holdings and also owns Shuttle America, which flies Saab 340s as United Express from Washington Dulles to about 12 cities in the northeastern and mid-Atlantic regions of the U.S. Shuttle America has run into numerous obstacles in the last few years, including a Chapter 11 filing in 2001, followed by moving its headquarters from Hanscom Field near Boston to Fort Wayne, Ind., in 2002. Contentious pilot negotiations almost caused the airline to stop operating in 2003. Airline CEO Scott Durgin said he couldn’t deny or confirm Republic’s plans.
INDIANAPOLIS (Aviation Daily) - Republic Airways Holdings is considering acquiring Shuttle America’s operating certificate as fines it must pay to American are mounting and the long-awaited certificate for its Republic Airlines subsidiary is still not on the horizon. The president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) Local 747 division representing Republic Airways Holdings subsidiary Chautauqua Airlines wrote to company CEO Bryan Bedford recently asking how the carrier’s contract would govern any potential combining the two carriers after Republic Chief Operating Officer Wayne Heller told Chautauqua’s employees he was thinking about obtaining the Shuttle America certificate. IBT noted it was “looking forward†to negotiations regarding a union of the Shuttle America and Chautauqua contracts “on those provisions affecting the combined work force.â€
The union also formed a merger committee to meet with Shuttle America’s pilots to agree on a combined seniority list. A source close to the union said Republic Airways Holdings might have an interest in shifting Embraer 170 flights from Chautauqua to avoid penalties it is now paying American. American’s pilots argued that Chautauqua’s 70-seat flights flown as United Express violated scope clauses in their contract that prevent American Connection carriers from flying planes with more than 50 seats. Eventually, American’s management settled its pilots dispute.
Part of the resolution required Republic Airways Holdings to pay American fines until Chautauqua’s sister carrier, Republic Airlines, obtains its operating certificate from FAA. Republic Airways Holdings paid about $300,000 in penalties during the fourth quarter of 2004 (DAILY, March 4). After the Chautauqua settlement, American Connection carrier Trans States had to agree not to fly planes with more than 50 seats; Trans States then opted to launch GoJet to fly 70-seat jets for United Express. Republic Airlines was originally supposed to fly the Embraer jets, but certification delays prevented its launch.
The airline’s original certification target was July 2004. Bedford recently said the carrier was targeting a June certification,but transitioning the 170s to Republic would take some time (DAILY, March 7). Unlike Republic’s woes in getting its FAA nod, a GoJet spokesman recently said efforts to launch the airline are “moving along quite nicely,†and the carrier should start proving runs the spring or summer to ensure its August launch (DAILY, March 15). Republic Airways Holdings lost a bid to fly additional 170s for United after the major carrier inked deals with SkyWest and GoJet earlier this week. Republic bid only on a portion of the 70 aircraft, offering to fly 15 additional 170s (DAILY, March 4).
At that time Bedford said United asked Republic to enlarge the bid, and Republic was “evaluating that.†Wexford Capital owns the majority stake in Republic Airways Holdings and also owns Shuttle America, which flies Saab 340s as United Express from Washington Dulles to about 12 cities in the northeastern and mid-Atlantic regions of the U.S. Shuttle America has run into numerous obstacles in the last few years, including a Chapter 11 filing in 2001, followed by moving its headquarters from Hanscom Field near Boston to Fort Wayne, Ind., in 2002. Contentious pilot negotiations almost caused the airline to stop operating in 2003. Airline CEO Scott Durgin said he couldn’t deny or confirm Republic’s plans.
SHUTTLE AMERICA!!!! OH NOHHHHHHHHHHHH!!
