United Reaches Deals With SkyWest, Trans States to Provide United Express Replacement Service
United has reached agreements with United Express carrier SkyWest Airlines and GoJet Airlines, a subsidiary of United Express partner Trans States Holdings, to provide approximately 30 70-seat regional jet aircraft to replace 50-seat regional jets currently operated by Air Wisconsin Airlines. The 70-seat CRJ-700 aircraft that SkyWest and GoJet will operate under the United Express name offer a First Class cabin and Economy Plus seating.
The agreements with SkyWest and GoJet are a result of the request for proposal (RFP) that United announced last November as a cost savings and customer satisfaction initiative to ensure that the United Express operation remains competitive. United Express sought bids to provide up to 70 regional jets for the United Express network, and these new deals are the first to come out of that RFP initiative.
"We are pleased with the economics we were able to negotiate with these agreements and to introduce more customer-preferred 70-seat aircraft to replace 50-seat aircraft," says Sean Donohue, vice president-United Express and Ted. "Customer feedback on the 70-seat regional jets with United First and Economy Plus sections has been very positive, and our customers will appreciate the additional seat comfort, headroom and aisle space this aircraft provides."
Of the 30 70-seat Bombardier CRJ-700 aircraft, SkyWest will operate 20, and GoJet will operate ten -- with all 30 aircraft planned for United Express service by first quarter of 2006. GoJet will begin flying the first aircraft under the agreement starting in August on routes to be announced at a later date.
Donohue says that discussions continue with Air Wisconsin and developments will be communicated as they are confirmed.
As the company has already indicated, United also is considering reductions in the United Express fleet to further reduce spending on U.S. domestic capacity, given high fuel prices and the current level of air fares.
United has reached agreements with United Express carrier SkyWest Airlines and GoJet Airlines, a subsidiary of United Express partner Trans States Holdings, to provide approximately 30 70-seat regional jet aircraft to replace 50-seat regional jets currently operated by Air Wisconsin Airlines. The 70-seat CRJ-700 aircraft that SkyWest and GoJet will operate under the United Express name offer a First Class cabin and Economy Plus seating.
The agreements with SkyWest and GoJet are a result of the request for proposal (RFP) that United announced last November as a cost savings and customer satisfaction initiative to ensure that the United Express operation remains competitive. United Express sought bids to provide up to 70 regional jets for the United Express network, and these new deals are the first to come out of that RFP initiative.
"We are pleased with the economics we were able to negotiate with these agreements and to introduce more customer-preferred 70-seat aircraft to replace 50-seat aircraft," says Sean Donohue, vice president-United Express and Ted. "Customer feedback on the 70-seat regional jets with United First and Economy Plus sections has been very positive, and our customers will appreciate the additional seat comfort, headroom and aisle space this aircraft provides."
Of the 30 70-seat Bombardier CRJ-700 aircraft, SkyWest will operate 20, and GoJet will operate ten -- with all 30 aircraft planned for United Express service by first quarter of 2006. GoJet will begin flying the first aircraft under the agreement starting in August on routes to be announced at a later date.
Donohue says that discussions continue with Air Wisconsin and developments will be communicated as they are confirmed.
As the company has already indicated, United also is considering reductions in the United Express fleet to further reduce spending on U.S. domestic capacity, given high fuel prices and the current level of air fares.
