bhmdiversion From United States of America, joined Dec 2008, 443 posts, RR: 0 Posted (1 year 2 months 1 week 3 days 16 hours ago) and read 2306 times:
This was sent out this morning via the company website:
A message from John Spanjers
Hello everyone
Yesterday we filed a Notice of Withdrawal with the Department of Transportation (DOT) to signal that Colgan will not bid to renew Essential Air Service (EAS) flying that we operate on behalf of United Express. We currently serve these markets with Saab aircraft out of Washington Dulles (IAD) and Bush Intercontinental in Houston (IAH). These EAS markets are:
• Altoona, PA (AOO)
• Johnstown, PA (JST)
• Staunton, VA – Shenandoah Valley (SHD)
• Beckley, WV (BKW)
• Clarksburg, WV (CKB)
• Morgantown, WV (MGW)
• Victoria, TX (VCT)
This decision is part of our ongoing efforts to improve operating efficiency and ultimately performance. Eliminating service to these markets will allow us to concentrate our network and focus more resources in the primary areas of our operations.
It’s important to note that we continue to serve these markets for now. Due to EAS regulations, we will remain in these markets until the DOT selects a replacement carrier and a transition date is agreed upon. The earliest we might exit these markets is 90 days from now, and if a new carrier is not selected within the 90-day window we are required to continue service until a new carrier is ready to begin operations. Ultimately, today’s announcement means business as usual for the time being.
We are communicating with every employee who will be impacted when we eventually do exit these markets. Wherever possible we’re working to provide other opportunities for those employees who are interested in staying with Pinnacle Airlines Corp. Those who aren’t interested or able to find other opportunities will be offered a stay incentive in order to maintain safe, reliable operations through the last scheduled day of flying.
Remaining Colgan flying
This decision, combined with our previously-announced decision to eliminate our pro-rate flying with US Airways, will leave Colgan with non-EAS Saab flying out of IAD and IAH supporting United Express. Those Saabs currently serve more than 20 markets. Colgan also operates our Q400s for United Express.
Additionally, Colgan continues to currently serve the US Airways EAS markets of Plattsburg, NY (PBG), Presque Isle, ME (PQI), and Bar Harbor, ME (BHB), along with a daily flight from Boston (BOS) to Albany (ALB) to provide those Saabs a flow into our maintenance facility in ALB. Earlier this week the DOT announced it has selected replacement carriers for these EAS markets, but the timeline for them to begin service has not been set. When the replacement carriers take over those markets, Colgan will no longer operate flights for US Airways.
This will be a difficult milestone in our history. Colgan has been flying for US Airways since 1999, and we’ve maintained a great relationship with them throughout the years.
It’s never easy to end a relationship with a great partner like US Airways, but ultimately these changes are necessary to continue creating a more efficient and reliable network.
We’ll continue to provide updates as we learn more about the progress on selecting replacement carriers for these EAS markets.
John
What does everyone think about this? I dont see this as a very good thing.
FlyASAGuy2005 From United States of America, joined Sep 2007, 6507 posts, RR: 11 Reply 1, posted (1 year 2 months 1 week 3 days 15 hours ago) and read 2239 times:
Quoting bhmdiversion (Thread starter): What does everyone think about this? I dont see this as a very good thing.
I personally don't see anything wrong with it. Chasing EAS funds is not for everyone. Sure it's guaranteed money but if the money put forth by the gov't doesn't cover operating costs then why fly it? Hard decisions need to be made now and the first to go will obviously be the extremely low hanging fruit.
Brings me back to something a certain member said some time back when DL announced they would be pulling out of a number of EAS and non EAS stations in the Midwest. Something to the effect that "Delta cutting bread and butter routes is a sign to their dwindling commitment to MSP". REALLY? JMS, BJI? Bread and butter?
CAM2:"Lightning coming out of that one." CAM1: "What?"
JBo From Sweden, joined Jan 2005, 2278 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (1 year 2 months 1 week 3 days 14 hours ago) and read 2105 times:
There really is nothing overly worrisome about this, they just no longer see the benefit in bidding for EAS routes and would prefer to focus on contract flying.
Also, are the Saabs on their way out of the Colgan fleet or are they remaining for now? If the Saabs are on their way out, then that may be a factor in withdrawing from EAS as the Q400 is too much aircraft for the route.
I'd take the awe of understanding over the awe of ignorance any day.
NWAROOSTER From United States of America, joined Feb 2005, 844 posts, RR: 3 Reply 3, posted (1 year 2 months 1 week 3 days 11 hours ago) and read 1798 times:
If I am not mistaken, Pinnacle Airways is in the process of eliminating the Colgan Airways name to remove the baggage of the crash in Buffalo, NY. Mesaba Aviation was "bought" by Pinnacle Airways and is to replace the Colgan name.
This is something similar to when Valujet became AirTran. This does not mean Pinnacle Airways is not going to get out of the EAS service.
Sean-SAN- From United States of America, joined Aug 2002, 752 posts, RR: 1 Reply 4, posted (1 year 2 months 1 week 3 days 11 hours ago) and read 1757 times:
The saabs will be totally gone by the end of the year, one way or another. This is one of the main areas currently under negotiation with UA. If UA doesn't give in, they will get ditched via bankruptcy.
flyinryan99 From United States of America, joined Feb 2001, 1919 posts, RR: 11 Reply 5, posted (1 year 2 months 1 week 3 days 6 hours ago) and read 1466 times:
Quoting Sean-SAN- (Reply 4): The saabs will be totally gone by the end of the year, one way or another. This is one of the main areas currently under negotiation with UA. If UA doesn't give in, they will get ditched via bankruptcy.
I wonder if Silver Airways will try and pick them up to run flights out of IAD to do EAS then. Could be a big opportunity for them, but they had better get hiring ASAP.
sldispatcher From United States of America, joined Mar 2007, 330 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (1 year 2 months 1 week 3 days 6 hours ago) and read 1423 times:
Quoting Sean-SAN- (Reply 4): The saabs will be totally gone by the end of the year, one way or another. This is one of the main areas currently under negotiation with UA. If UA doesn't give in, they will get ditched via bankruptcy.
Are you referring to all SAAB's or just those affected by the USAirways agreement?
DashTrash From United States of America, joined Aug 2006, 1314 posts, RR: 4 Reply 7, posted (1 year 2 months 1 week 3 days 6 hours ago) and read 1385 times:
I've heard that after next year the tubes in the Saab will no longer be supported. When spares run out there wouldn't be anything to replace them with. Hence, the Saabs will be going in the next couple of years.
MasseyBrown From United States of America, joined Dec 2002, 4720 posts, RR: 7 Reply 8, posted (1 year 2 months 1 week 3 days 5 hours ago) and read 1311 times:
Quoting flyinryan99 (Reply 5): I wonder if Silver Airways will try and pick them up to run flights out of IAD to do EAS then. Could be a big opportunity for them, but they had better get hiring ASAP.
I don't know if Silver would want to set up another base. They could easily add AOO and JST and perhaps MGW to their CLE operation. The rest make less sense. CKB and SHD may fail to any attract bids at all.
Sean-SAN- From United States of America, joined Aug 2002, 752 posts, RR: 1 Reply 9, posted (1 year 2 months 1 week 3 days 3 hours ago) and read 1171 times:
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