Techrep From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Posted (8 years 1 month 4 weeks 22 hours ago) and read 2590 times:
My inside sources within ACA/Midwest Express tell me that all Delta Connection Dornier 328JETS operated by ACA will be sold to Midwest Express. Midwest Express will assume the lease and maintenance contracts and agree in interest to assume control of all ACA 328JET operated aircraft. Pratt & Whitney has assured Midwest Express, before the filling, that the P&W306B, 1st and 2nd stage turbine blade erosion abnormality will be addressed during engine overhaul.
Reduced Power Take Off has also been tentatively approved by AvCraft, which will further improve the reliability of the turbine blades. If I were an ACA Delta Connection 328JET Crewmember I would begin to ask questions.
Deltaffindfw From United States of America, joined Sep 2003, 1329 posts, RR: 1 Reply 1, posted (8 years 1 month 4 weeks 22 hours ago) and read 2521 times:
I thought DALPA had a clause stating that DL cannot contract with any connection carrier who utilize mainline planes for any part of their operation. That would seem to be a problem if the DoJets are sold.
Techrep From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 2, posted (8 years 1 month 4 weeks 22 hours ago) and read 2487 times:
They are not contracting; they are selling these aircraft outright. All 33 aircraft will be sold and a new replacement airframe type will be announced at the same time, hint Airbus....
Deltaffindfw From United States of America, joined Sep 2003, 1329 posts, RR: 1 Reply 3, posted (8 years 1 month 4 weeks 22 hours ago) and read 2464 times:
DL is contracting with ACA. Now, they will be contracting with Midwest - which might violate the DALPA agreement.
Mizzou65201 From United States of America, joined Dec 2000, 195 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (8 years 1 month 4 weeks 22 hours ago) and read 2426 times:
"DL is contracting with ACA. Now, they will be contracting with Midwest - which might violate the DALPA agreement. "
No, it sounds like ACA would just be selling the 328s to Astral (Midwest Connect). Even if this were to be a contract, it would presumably be with Astral, not Midwest mainline itself. (Yes, I know they are both wholly owned by MEH.)
Captcjmac From United States of America, joined Feb 2001, 86 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (8 years 1 month 4 weeks 17 hours ago) and read 2238 times:
How many 328's are we talking about here? I think Skyway has roughly 10-328s in the fleet right now. I kind of find it hard to believe they will make this purchase only because Skyway is supposed to take delivery of ERJ-145s sometime in the near future. I am a big fan of the 328's so this is great news if it's true! Please keep us posted on this interesting topic!!!
Tekelberry From United States of America, joined May 2003, 1459 posts, RR: 6 Reply 8, posted (8 years 1 month 4 weeks 16 hours ago) and read 2185 times:
Why would Astral/Midwest buy these jets? They have 20 ERJ-140s on order...
Tekelberry From United States of America, joined May 2003, 1459 posts, RR: 6 Reply 10, posted (8 years 1 month 4 weeks 16 hours ago) and read 2137 times:
Maybe to continue the Delta connection flying?!? That´s the only reason I can see them quatrupling their current fleet of 328JETs.
How would selling part of their DL connection fleet help continue DL connection flying?
Flying-Tiger From Germany, joined Aug 1999, 4073 posts, RR: 44 Reply 11, posted (8 years 1 month 4 weeks 15 hours ago) and read 2121 times:
IMO it seems that Astral Aviation will become another DL Connection carrier,filling ACA´s role there, at least in the 30-seat range. They will purchase the 328JETs from ACA but will keep them at the places where they are currently flying. That´s it I suppose.
Tekelberry From United States of America, joined May 2003, 1459 posts, RR: 6 Reply 12, posted (8 years 1 month 4 weeks 15 hours ago) and read 2105 times:
IMO it seems that Astral Aviation will become another DL Connection carrier,filling ACA´s role there, at least in the 30-seat range. They will purchase the 328JETs from ACA but will keep them at the places where they are currently flying. That´s it I suppose.
Astral Aviation is a wholly owned subsidiary of Midwest Airlines Holdings. Astral operates for Midwest Airlines DBA Midwest Connect.
Flying-Tiger From Germany, joined Aug 1999, 4073 posts, RR: 44 Reply 13, posted (8 years 1 month 4 weeks 15 hours ago) and read 2091 times:
And? Says nothing. They can easily set up another "airline" which operates the DL Connection part with the former ACA 328JETs. Just as the original ACA setup for the DL Connection and United Express operations... only this time for Midwest Express and Delta.
Flyboy7974 From United States of America, joined Jan 2003, 1540 posts, RR: 3 Reply 14, posted (8 years 1 month 4 weeks 15 hours ago) and read 2079 times:
after reading this, i called a friend who is a captain with aca on the crj now, for her first three years she was flying the 328jet with aca based in boston and then cvg. she made a couple of calls and called me back today, and said everything here above sounds right from the aca rumor mills. one reason is fleet consolidation, but overall, delta is not happy with the dispatch reliability of the 328jet. so who knows what is going on.
Tekelberry From United States of America, joined May 2003, 1459 posts, RR: 6 Reply 15, posted (8 years 1 month 4 weeks 14 hours ago) and read 2054 times:
And? Says nothing. They can easily set up another "airline" which operates the DL Connection part with the former ACA 328JETs. Just as the original ACA setup for the DL Connection and United Express operations... only this time for Midwest Express and Delta.
Why would ACA sell DL connection planes just for another airline to start using them for the same service? Secondly, why would Midwest Air Group, Inc. hold a contract with a company (DL) that directly competes with their own service (YX)? I'm not following your logic here...
Flying-Tiger From Germany, joined Aug 1999, 4073 posts, RR: 44 Reply 16, posted (8 years 1 month 4 weeks 14 hours ago) and read 2049 times:
a) ACA can simplify their fleet, thus concentrating on the Independance Air efforts
b) Astral Aviation - not Midwest Express! - gets another source of income (just see how Air Wisconsin has operated for Air Tran, and they are the main UA feeder, see Skywest, operating for both UA and DL... I can continue this list). It comes down to the point, that Astral already has experience in the 30-seat sector with this specific airframe and might in future try to diversify this business to otehr carriers, not only Midwest - and not possible Delta.
For me it looks like it could be a win-win situation for both carrier - ACA has one type less, Astral has a feeder operation with a large major.
Tekelberry From United States of America, joined May 2003, 1459 posts, RR: 6 Reply 17, posted (8 years 1 month 4 weeks 14 hours ago) and read 2040 times:
Flying-Tiger,
Astral Aviation is a wholly owned subsidiary of Midwest Air Group, Inc. (which means Midwest Airlines OWNS Astral Aviation). This would be like saying American Eagle should go and start flying for Continental Express.
Flying-Tiger From Germany, joined Aug 1999, 4073 posts, RR: 44 Reply 18, posted (8 years 1 month 4 weeks 14 hours ago) and read 2024 times:
I know that - but this doesn´t mean it has to stay that way. Besides, how big are YX´s operations where the DL 328JETs are flying? As far as I know they are barely of any danger to the current YX operations, thus, why not earn the extra money if possible? I cannot imagine any scenario in which Astral Aviation is going to operate another 30+ 328JETs for MidWest Express. Can you?
Tekelberry From United States of America, joined May 2003, 1459 posts, RR: 6 Reply 19, posted (8 years 1 month 4 weeks 14 hours ago) and read 2020 times:
As far as I know they are barely of any danger to the current YX operations, thus, why not earn the extra money if possible?
Well Midwest Airlines might as well close up shop then if their own parent company starts flying for another competing airline. Yes, it would hurt YX. The whole point of Astral Aviation/Midwest Connect is to draw business to Midwest Airlines through a hub, not to provide economic aid to another airline such as Delta.
I cannot imagine any scenario in which Astral Aviation is going to operate another 30+ 328JETs for MidWest Express. Can you?
I think this whole rumor is BS anyways... Astral doesn't need the 328s pending the delivery of their ERJ-140s.
Tekelberry From United States of America, joined May 2003, 1459 posts, RR: 6 Reply 20, posted (8 years 1 month 4 weeks 14 hours ago) and read 2016 times:
Just to add, money made with a regional connection with DL would be potentially more money lost to YX.
Rjnut From United States of America, joined Dec 1999, 1146 posts, RR: 0 Reply 21, posted (8 years 1 month 4 weeks 11 hours ago) and read 1953 times:
I think Astral should continue to build their 328jet fleet,,order more and contract out 30 seat jet operations to anyone that needs them....a specialty niche regional...there is only so much they can do for YX.. I am proud of YX for stepping "outside the bun"(baked on board of course).
Voodoo From Niue, joined Mar 2001, 1919 posts, RR: 0 Reply 22, posted (8 years 1 month 4 weeks 10 hours ago) and read 1935 times:
Techrep wrote:They are not contracting; they are selling these aircraft outright. All 33 aircraft will be sold and a new replacement airframe type will be announced at the same time, hint Airbus....
-----
They already announced their 319/320 purchase so you mean a new announcement?
How do you replace a FRJ with an Airbus?
Mind you, 318s in the Indy Air livery would be cute.
TechRep From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 23, posted (8 years 1 month 4 weeks 9 hours ago) and read 1862 times:
Voodoo,
I may have misunderstood about the Airbus announcment, I was so caught up listening to the Dornier news. The point is they are not replacing the FRJ with Airbus, they are simply dumping the FRJ.
I didn't say that the entire fleet would be dumped overnight; a transition or phase out action plan will be implemented. Gradually the aircraft will be bridged to the Midwest Express Maintenance Program from ACA, painted and configuration adjustments made. This action plan based on a 33 aircraft schedule will probably take 1 year to complete.
Doesn't it make you wonder why AvCraft Aviation (328 factory service center) moved their entire 145-repair facility to South Carolina from Ohio last month? The reason is to support C Checks and this transition (bridging) arrangement between the two operators.
HlywdCatft From United States of America, joined Jan 2001, 5321 posts, RR: 8 Reply 24, posted (8 years 1 month 4 weeks 8 hours ago) and read 1809 times:
I think it would mean that just like ACA did with United and Delta. You never saw an ACA operated United Express CRJ fly into Cincinatti or Atlanta, if you saw United Express there it was Air Wisconsin and at the same time you never saw Delta Express fly a FRJ into ORD or IAD.
So basically Midwest Express couldn't fly FRJs into CVG and DL Express can't fly FRJs into MKE.
25 SegmentKing: Skyway can not fly the FRJs on routes it competes head-to-head with Delta, so MKE-CVG is going to be an issue.. -n
26 BoingGoingGone: Makes sense for replacing the 1900's, but one of the main puposes with buying the ERJ-140 was not only capacity enhancement but savings in maintenance
27 UNITED777300: Well these might be a hold over aircraft; which would replace the B1900's in the short term and when the ERJ's finally come (2006?) some of the 328JET
28 TechRep: An individual contacted me via e-mail and requested if this information could be added to this topic. Would like to start off saying that Midwest Expr
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