Tag Archives: Bombardier CRJ900

Pinnacle Airlines reaches a tentative agreement with its ALPA pilots, will increase its Delta Connection Bombardier CRJ900 fleet to 81 aircraft

Pinnacle Airlines Corporation (Memphis) wholly owned subsidiary, Pinnacle Airlines Inc. (Memphis), has announced it has reached a tentative agreement with the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), the legal representative of the Pinnacle Airlines pilot group on cost reductions that cover pay, retirement, work rules and benefits.

A separate agreement was reached among Pinnacle Airlines, Pinnacle pilots and Delta Air Lines that includes long-term career opportunities and the addition of 40 Bombardier CRJ900s to the Pinnacle fleet. With this agreement, Pinnacle’s long-term fleet plan has been established at 81 CRJ900 aircraft. The CRJ900 deliveries are planned for the fall of 2013 and are planned to be completed by year-end of 2014. Pinnacle will remove its 140 CRJ200 aircraft from the fleet over the next two to three years.

ALPA members will have the opportunity to vote on the tentative agreement in January and, if approved, the changes would become effective when similar changes are implemented for Pinnacle’s other labor groups and non-union employees. The tentative agreement also remains subject to approval and review by the Bankruptcy Court.

Flying as a Delta Connection carrier, Pinnacle Airlines operates 197 regional jets on 1,000 daily flights to 131 cities in the United States and Canada.

Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum. Bombardier CRJ900 (CL-600-2D24) N181PQ (msn 15181) of Pinnacle Airlines arrives at Delta’s Atlanta hub.

Delta Connection-Pinnacle Airlines:

Delta orders 40 new Bombardier CRJ900 regional jets

Delta Air Lines (Atlanta) has finalized an agreement with Bombardier Aerospace that will allow the airline to continue restructuring its domestic fleet by replacing less efficient single-class 50-seat aircraft with new two-class 76-seat aircraft. As part of the agreement, Delta will acquire 40 new CRJ900 two-class regional jets, with the option to purchase an additional 30 CRJ900 aircraft, and Bombardier will assist Delta in phasing out 60 single-class CRJ200 aircraft.

The addition of the CRJ900 is the latest step in Delta’s domestic fleet optimization plan focused on reducing inefficient flying, implementing strong capacity discipline by matching the right size aircraft to each market and improving the customer experience. The 76-seat CRJ900 will primarily replace less efficient 50-seat aircraft on a capacity-neutral basis. Retiring these aircraft reduces fuel and maintenance expense, improving Delta’s cost structure and environmental profile.

This announcement follows previously announced transactions supporting Delta’s domestic fleet optimization plan, including the addition of 88 Boeing 717-200 aircraft to primarily replace 50-seat aircraft, and acquisition of 100 new Boeing 737-900 ER jets to replace Boeing 757 and 767 aircraft.

Delta will begin taking delivery of CRJ900, 717-200 and 737-900 ER aircraft in the latter half of 2013.

This agreement also supports Delta’s efforts to improve the customer experience. The 40 76-seat CRJ900 aircraft enhance Delta’s efforts to offer customers more first class seats than any other airline. The CRJ900 will be configured with 12 seats in the first class cabin, 12 seats in Delta’s popular Economy Comfort section and 52 seats in economy. The aircraft will feature Delta’s all-leather seating in a two-by-two configuration with window and aisle seats only. Customers flying on Delta’s regional aircraft will continue to have access to the planeside valet program, with the opportunity to drop off larger carry-on baggage at the boarding door and pick it up planeside upon arrival.

Larger two-class regional jets flying for Delta also offer in-flight Wi-Fi access, Delta’s complimentary snacks and beverages, food available for purchase and complimentary first class meals on flights over 900 miles.

Delta’s regional fleet currently features 255 larger two-class regional jets, including 101 CRJ900 aircraft.

It is unclear which airline will operate the new CRJ900 aircraft.

In other Delta Connection news, flight attendants at subsidiary Compass Airlines (Minneapolis/St. Paul) have requested arbitration by the National Mediation Board (NMB) that will allow them to strike if management fails to negotiate a new agreement according to this report by Reuters.

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

Top Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing. Formerly operated by Comair, Bombardier CRJ900 (CL-600-2D24) N548CA (msn 15159) is now assigned to SkyWest Airlines (St. George).

Delta Air Lines:

Delta Connection-SkyWest Airlines:

Delta Connection-Compass Airlines:

Bottom Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough. Compass Airlines operates a large Embraer fleet for Delta Air Lines. Embraer ERJ 170-200LR (ERJ 175) N608CZ (msn 17000195) arrives at Baltimore/Washington.

SAS to start 45 new routes in 2013

Scandinavian Airlines-SAS (Stockholm) has announced it will launch 45 new routes in 2013. In addition, the airline is also increasing the frequency on some current domestic and European routes.

New routes from Sweden:

From Stockholm to Innsbruck, Pula, Palermo, Cagliari, Thessaloniki, Tel Aviv, Pristina and Alanya
From Gothenburg to Nice, Pristina and Östersund

New routes from Norway:

From Oslo to Salzburg, Berlin, Budapest, Santorini, Cagliari, Palermo, Pristina, Valencia, Malta, Lisbon, Athens, Tenerife and Pula
From Bergen to Dubrovnik and Antalya
From Trondheim to Split
From Stavanger to Antalya

New routes from Denmark:

From Copenhagen to San Francisco, Budapest, Prague, Newcastle, Cagliari, Palermo, Alanya, Thessaloniki, Pula and Biarritz

New routes from Finland:

From Helsinki to Paris, Rome, Prague, Geneva and Östersund
From Turku to Kittilä
From Tampere to Kittilä

In other news, on the financial side, SAS has announced the Danish Pilot Union members have approved the new austerity program.

According to the carrier, the new revolving credit facility of SEK 3.5 billion is therefore now only subject to parliamentary approval where required. These propositions in relation to the governments participation in the revolving credit facility will be presented to the parliaments in Sweden and Norway on December 12, 2012.

Scandinavian Airlines-SAS:

RwandAir would like to double its fleet in the next five years

RwandAir (Kigali) would like to more than double its fleet in the next five years, including possibly adding the Boeing 787 Dreamliner according to this article by Reuters. The government airline added its first Bombardier CRJ900 (CL-600-2D24) (9XR-WH) (msn 15286) on October 17, 2012.

Besides the CRJ900, the fleet consists of two Next-Generation Boeing 737- 800s, two Boeing 737- 500s and a DHC-8-100.The new CRJ900s are replacing older and smaller 50-seat CRJ200s.

Read the full article: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: James Helbock. The first Boeing 737-800, the pictured 737-84Y 9XR-WF (msn 40892), was added to the fleet on August 25, 2011, direct from Boeing. The airline is also the first to operate the 737 with the new Sky Interior in Africa.

RwandAir:

Cosmo Airlines buys seven Pluna Bombardier CRJ900s for European expansion

Cosmo Airlines (Madrid) is growing fast. The charter and ACMI airline is the winning auction bidder for seven Pluna (Montevideo) CRJ900s. The new fleet additions will be brought to Europe for expansion of operations in central and eastern Europe. Cosmo currently operates two 180-seat Airbus A320s.

The company issued the following statement (translated from Spanish):

“Cosmo Airlines bid $137 million, and was proclaimed the winner, being the highest bidder.

The Cosmo Group has a fleet of two Airbus 320s, and is in the process of expanding the fleet with more Airbus A320 family aircraft. With the acquisition of seven Bombardier aircraft the goal is to give a quantitative and qualitative leap in its European charter flights operations.”

The objective of the Cosmo Group with the acquisition of this fleet of seven CRJ900s, is to expand its charter business in Central and Eastern Europe, since aircraft acquired are appropriate to cover all flight ranges that exist within of these regions.”

Read the full report from Merco Press: CLICK HERE

Cosmo Airlines:

Air France to consolidate Airlinair, Brit Air and Regional into one carrier with a new regional hub

Air France (Paris) as part of it turnaround plan is planning to merge regional carriers Airlinair, Brit Air, Regional and operate from a new strategic regional hub.

This new regional division will operate flights under a new brand.

The new name and flight schedule will be announced in January 2013 for a launch in April 2013. The new consolidated carrier will operate 86 aircraft, down from the current 93. 64 jobs are expected to be lost in the the consolidation.

Air France by Brit Air:

SkyWest to get 34 Comair aircraft for the Delta Connection operation, will retire 66 CRJ200s

SkyWest, Inc. (SkyWest Airlines) (St. George) has announced that it has reached an understanding with Delta Air Lines, Inc. (Atlanta) on a transaction which provides SkyWest, Inc. 34 additional dual-class regional jet aircraft and for the early termination of 66 Bombardier CRJ200 regional jet aircraft under its existing Delta Connection agreements. The 34 additional aircraft consist of five Bombardier CRJ700 aircraft and 29 Bombardier CRJ900. SkyWest, Inc. anticipates that it will take delivery of the 34 aircraft incrementally between August 2012 and June 2013. Subject to the completion of agreements to be negotiated between SkyWest, Inc. and Delta, SkyWest, Inc. also anticipates that these changes will be incorporated into its existing Delta agreements with a December 2022 termination date for these operating rights.

SkyWest, Inc. intends to remove the 66 CRJ200 aircraft from existing Delta Connection service between August 2012 and December 2015. Of those aircraft, 41 are Delta-financed aircraft which are scheduled to be returned to Delta without obligation to SkyWest, Inc. The remaining 25 aircraft are SkyWest, Inc. financed aircraft and SkyWest is currently working on opportunities to mitigate the financial risk associated with removing those aircraft from Delta service.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing. Bombardier CRJ900 (CL-600-2D24) N802SK (msn 15061) is pictured on final approach into Los Angeles International Airport.

Delta Connection-SkyWest:

Comair to cease all operations on September 29

Delta Air Lines (Atlanta) today announced its subsidiary, Comair, Inc. (Delta Connection) (Cincinnati) will cease all operations after September 29, 2012.

The company issued the following statement this morning:

“Ryan Gumm, President of Comair, communicated Delta’s decision this morning to Comair employees in a memo, the full text of which is included below.

The discontinuation of Comair’s operations will not result in any significant changes to Delta’s network, which has enough flexibility to accommodate these changes. Currently, Comair accounts for approximately one percent of Delta’s network capacity. There will be no disruption to customers and no significant adjustments to Delta’s flight schedule or locations served. All customers who travel on the Delta network, whether on Delta Connection flights or mainline aircraft, can continue to make travel plans with Delta as they have in the past.

Cincinnati will continue to be an important market in Delta’s worldwide network. Over the past several years, working with community leaders, Delta has right-sized capacity at Cincinnati to better match service to local passenger demand. Cincinnati is now a profitable market for Delta and the city continues to enjoy over 120 peak daily flights, with non-stop service to 49 destinations. No reductions in the number of Delta flights are planned at Cincinnati as a result of this decision.

To                            All Comair Employees
From                        Ryan Gumm, President
Subject                    Comair to Cease Operations
Date                        July 27, 2012

All,

Today, I am writing to let you know that Delta has made the difficult decision to cease Comair’s operations after September 29, 2012.

Delta recently announced its intent to reduce the overall number of 50-seat regional jets in its network from nearly 350 to 125 or fewer in light of the significant changes in the economic and competitive conditions in the airline industry. We believed this announcement would have a negative impact on Comair because we operate some of the oldest 50-seat aircraft in the Delta Connection fleet, which also have the highest unit cost per flight hour. And, in fact, Delta has decided to remove the remaining 16 Comair 50-seaters from the Delta network, leaving Comair with only 28 aircraft in scheduled service. This further reduction of Comair’s active fleet will only create higher unit costs, which equates to a business model that is no longer sustainable in this competitive regional environment.

I understand that today’s news is very difficult and raises many questions for you and your family. Human Resources is prepared to directly assist you during this time. They will post a memo and other documents on the Human Resources Epic page to keep you informed of the assistance available and to help answer many of your questions. We will also have staff available over the weekend to answer questions if needed. If after reviewing the information on Epic you have any additional questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to your departmental leadership as well.

The discontinuation of Comair’s operations is in no way a failure or a reflection of your work – it is an unfortunate necessity due to the economic limitations of our aging aircraft, cost structure, the long-term outlook for 50-seat aircraft, and our challenging industry and economy. The quality of our operations has continued to be outstanding during our lengthy restructuring efforts, and I am honored to have had the opportunity to lead such a committed team. I am asking that each of you recognize the importance of remaining focused on safety and the job at hand as we continue operations throughout the wind-down period. Your continued commitment and your dedication to a safe and reliable operation is a testament to the professional team we have built here at Comair.”

Comair started operations in March 1977 and became a Delta Connection carrier on September 1, 1984.

Top Copyright Photo: Ken Petersen. Bombardier CRJ900 (CL-600-2D24) N695CA (msn 15097) taxies at New York (JFK) in the special “30 years” (1977-2007) when it celebrated its 30th Anniversary.

Bottom Copyright Photo: Jay Selman. ComAir started out as an independent carrier. Shorts SD3-30 N2630A (msn SH.3081) is pictured near Cincinnati in August 1982 dressed in the 1977 livery. The airframe was destroyed in a rare tornado at Miami on February 2, 1998.

Delta Connection-Comair:

Pluna’s seven Bombardier CRJ900s to be auctioned off

Pluna Lineas Aereas Uruguayas (Montevideo) operated seven Bombardier CRJ900s. The government of Uruguay is planning to auction off the fleet to the highest bidder. The winning bidder will also have the first option to resume operations as the new flag carrier of Uruguay according to this report by Bloomberg.

Read the report: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Marcelo F. De Biasi. Bombardier CRJ900 (CL-600-2D24) CX-CRD (msn 15180) is pictured arriving at Sao Paulo (Guarulhos).

Pluna:

Bombardier gets ready to deliver the first CRJ900 to China Express Airlines

China Express Airlines (Giuyang) is getting ready to take delivery of its first Bombardier CRJ900 (CL-600-2D24). Bombardier has brought this brand new jetliner to Farnborough Airshow prior to the official handover.

The Chinese airline ordered six CRJ900 NextGen aircraft and options on an additional five on October 26, 2011 initially as undisclosed customer. The CRJ900s will build upon China Express’ existing fleet of five CRJ200 aircraft, serving to further enhance the airline’s regional network.

China Express is China’s first private regional airline based in Guiyang, Guizhou.

The airline was established in May 2006 with operations commencing in September 2006. The airline is owned by Cathay Fortune (40%), High Zero (25%), Tampines International (24%) and others (11%).

Copyright Photo: Antony J. Best. CRJ900 (CL-600-2D24) with the test registration of C-GIAZ (msn 15277) taxies into the display area at FAB on July 6, 2012.

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