Could this be another Express carrier for US considering the soon to start Hawaii service?
Mesa Air Group Plans to Establish Independent Inter-Island Hawaiian Airline
Friday September 23, 7:00 am ET
PHOENIX, Sept. 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Mesa Air Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: MESA - News) today announced its intention to establish an independent inter-island Hawaiian airline with service expected to begin in the 1st quarter of 2006.
Mesa's Hawaiian operations will be conducted using state of the art new generation regional jets in a high quality, high frequency service, connecting the islands of Hawaii with service to the Hilo, Honolulu, Kona, Lihue and Maui (Kahului) markets. The aircraft will be incremental to Mesa's current fleet. The Company anticipates it will formally announce detailed scheduling, consumer marketing and branding plans for the new inter-island Hawaiian airline in the near future.
Mesa intends to form a new company, in partnership with other financial investors, to operate under its own Hawaiian brand. The company will use the latest technology in order to simplify the ticketing and reservation process and expects to market primarily over the Internet. "Project Hele" as it is known within the Company, has been under study since early 2004. Consistent with the Company's plans to operate as an independent inter-island Hawaiian airline, Mesa has been in discussions with other airlines regarding potential code share agreements.
Mesa currently operates 182 aircraft with over 1,100 daily system departures to over 165 cities, 44 states, the District of Columbia, Canada, and Mexico and is particularly well suited to establish a strong and stable independent inter-island Hawaiian airline. Mesa was founded in 1982 and has been profitable on a pro forma basis for 27 out of the last 28 quarters. The Company will have annual revenues in excess of $1 billion in 2005 and has approximately $275 million in cash. In recognition of the Company's accomplishments and exemplary service to the public, Mesa was named 2005 Regional Airline of the Year by Air Transport World Magazine.
"We are delighted to announce this new service in Hawaii. While Mesa is new to Hawaii, we have contemplated inter-island service as far back as 1990," said Jonathan Ornstein, Mesa's Chairman and CEO. "We believe our industry leading cost structure, strong financial position and high quality operations will allow us to provide a consistent and outstanding level of service. We would like to offer a warm 'mahalo' to the many folks we have already met in Hawaii for the kind welcome we have received. The Mesa family looks forward to getting to know the people of Hawaii."
Mesa currently operates 182 aircraft with over 1,100 daily system departures to over 165 cities, 44 states, the District of Columbia, Canada, and Mexico. Mesa operates as America West Express, US Airways Express and United Express under contractual agreement with America West, US Airways and United Airlines, respectively, and independently as Mesa Airlines. The Company, founded by Larry and Janie Risley in New Mexico in 1982, has approximately 5,000 employees. Mesa is a member of the Regional Airline Association and Regional Aviation Partners. The Company was named 2005 Regional Airline of the Year by Air Transport World Magazine.
Mesa Air Group Plans to Establish Independent Inter-Island Hawaiian Airline
Friday September 23, 7:00 am ET
PHOENIX, Sept. 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Mesa Air Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: MESA - News) today announced its intention to establish an independent inter-island Hawaiian airline with service expected to begin in the 1st quarter of 2006.
Mesa's Hawaiian operations will be conducted using state of the art new generation regional jets in a high quality, high frequency service, connecting the islands of Hawaii with service to the Hilo, Honolulu, Kona, Lihue and Maui (Kahului) markets. The aircraft will be incremental to Mesa's current fleet. The Company anticipates it will formally announce detailed scheduling, consumer marketing and branding plans for the new inter-island Hawaiian airline in the near future.
Mesa intends to form a new company, in partnership with other financial investors, to operate under its own Hawaiian brand. The company will use the latest technology in order to simplify the ticketing and reservation process and expects to market primarily over the Internet. "Project Hele" as it is known within the Company, has been under study since early 2004. Consistent with the Company's plans to operate as an independent inter-island Hawaiian airline, Mesa has been in discussions with other airlines regarding potential code share agreements.
Mesa currently operates 182 aircraft with over 1,100 daily system departures to over 165 cities, 44 states, the District of Columbia, Canada, and Mexico and is particularly well suited to establish a strong and stable independent inter-island Hawaiian airline. Mesa was founded in 1982 and has been profitable on a pro forma basis for 27 out of the last 28 quarters. The Company will have annual revenues in excess of $1 billion in 2005 and has approximately $275 million in cash. In recognition of the Company's accomplishments and exemplary service to the public, Mesa was named 2005 Regional Airline of the Year by Air Transport World Magazine.
"We are delighted to announce this new service in Hawaii. While Mesa is new to Hawaii, we have contemplated inter-island service as far back as 1990," said Jonathan Ornstein, Mesa's Chairman and CEO. "We believe our industry leading cost structure, strong financial position and high quality operations will allow us to provide a consistent and outstanding level of service. We would like to offer a warm 'mahalo' to the many folks we have already met in Hawaii for the kind welcome we have received. The Mesa family looks forward to getting to know the people of Hawaii."
Mesa currently operates 182 aircraft with over 1,100 daily system departures to over 165 cities, 44 states, the District of Columbia, Canada, and Mexico. Mesa operates as America West Express, US Airways Express and United Express under contractual agreement with America West, US Airways and United Airlines, respectively, and independently as Mesa Airlines. The Company, founded by Larry and Janie Risley in New Mexico in 1982, has approximately 5,000 employees. Mesa is a member of the Regional Airline Association and Regional Aviation Partners. The Company was named 2005 Regional Airline of the Year by Air Transport World Magazine.
