Skywest to fly for Airtran

[GaTechKid]

Q: How is this partnership different than a traditional codeshare arrangement?
Under a traditional codeshare, the flying by the regional carrier is done on a contract basis without regard to the number of passengers onboard, the regional partner typically paints their planes into the larger carrier’s livery and their employees wear the larger company’s uniforms.
Under this marketing partnership, revenue will be shared on a pro-rated basis and SkyWest Airlines will control local availability, authorization levels and all seat inventory for the aircraft used by SkyWest. SkyWest Airlines will also assume fuel costs and will maintain all revenue and pricing responsibility for these routes.
We have gone to great lengths to ensure that passengers flying on SkyWest aircraft will know during the booking process that these flights are operated by our marketing partner, SkyWest Airlines.
Tickets for these SkyWest flights will be available through all of our booking channels, including AirTran.com, 1-800-AIR-TRAN, travel agents and others.
Q: Why isn’t SkyWest painting their planes into AirTran colors?
A couple of reasons – first, we provide our customers with a unique and I believe industry leading product and we want to make sure we continue to meet our customers’ expectations for service. Unlike traditional code share agreements, we are not going to try to mislead our customers into believing this was our service. Instead, ours is a marketing partnership with each company flying under its own livery and inflight product.

[surreal1221]

Originally Posted by Baronman

I'll take it back...not all are baiting..I'll say he has a PASSION for SKYW and it shows. Not the most constructive comments but then again I'm frequently guilty of the same.

Speaking of links..."3 Guys...." the first thing that came to my mind was that we caught you with "2 Girls...One cup." Now that would have been funny!

He'll be a regional lifer. . .because otherwise, he might have to work for a union carrier when he makes that transition to a "major."

[jynxyjoe]

Originally Posted by surreal1221

He'll be a regional lifer. . .because otherwise, he might have to work for a union carrier when he makes that transition to a "major."

Heh. I love ya man, but people change.

I used to be a huge anti-unionist. Thankfully Pinnacle (bought Colgan) pried my eyes wide open.

[surreal1221]

Shocking how that happens right?

Work for one dirt bag company, and now we see the value in having representation and all the additional benefits - right?

[FlyChicaga]

Originally Posted by Doug Taylor

Oooh, hmm... linky

Holy ****, did they give that man a Kool-aid IV?

[Doug Taylor]

Originally Posted by flychicaga

holy ****, did they give that man a kool-aid iv?

Almost as if HQ was on Via De La Rosa!

[ChasenSFO]

I'm not really in a place at this point in my life to pretend I know everything there is about whats right and wrong with this kind of "codeshare". However, I am looking at 2 things here with great curiosity.

1) This will be the first time in a LONG time that Skywest had its own branded service. Ever since Skywest signed that deal with Western back in the 80s, Everyone who flew on Skywest ever since was either on "Delta", "United", "Continental", or "Midwest". And thus far our inflight products have been whatever DL, CO, YX, and UA have told us they were going to be. For example UA gave us first class where pax get nothing but a crappy snack box, and coach pax get nada. DL's first class on the -900s is pretty much full Delta first class service. Midwest had us install ovens to bake cookies for their passangers. Now we get to sit back and see how SKYWEST puts on a flight. After all the talk our company does about our superior service, I'm interested to see what the difference will be between a flight in a CRJ-200 that says "SKYWEST" and a CRJ-200 that says "UNITED EXPRESS".

2) I also look like this as Skywest trying to play a new game. "Lets (re)start an airline!". Sure, FL is doing our reservations, but this is a Skywest flight opperating under a codeshare FL. What if passangers like the product? Is this the start of the next Indyair? I sure hope not...but time will tell.

[Hootie]

Jeepers, I just saw this....8 pages!!! It's like 4or 5 airplanes....That doesn't even deserve a press release.

[ChasenSFO]

Originally Posted by Hootie

Jeepers, I just saw this....8 pages!!! It's like 4or 5 airplanes....That doesn't even deserve a press release.

The possibility of it growing is what is causing (most of) the debate.

[Hootie]

Originally Posted by ChasenSFO

The possibility of it growing is what is causing (most of) the debate.

Growing to what? Every airline customer I've ever talked to would rather drive than sit in the back of a 200 or 145. This is just something to do with idle aircraft.

[ChasenSFO]

Originally Posted by Hootie

Growing to what? Every airline customer I've ever talked to would rather drive than sit in the back of a 200 or 145. This is just something to do with idle aircraft.

Growing into today's 717s routes being flown by CRJs.

[ATN_Pilot]

Originally Posted by SoCalAprch

This is bad bad bad... Whats to make Skywest not just go out and buy some 717s and 737s and start operating at other cities under a "code share" with you guys? What does your scope language say about this?

Our scope language limits regional partnerships to no more than 70-seat aircraft, with block-hour restrictions at 20% for total outsourced flying, and 75% of that can go to aircraft between 51-70 seats. Compared to other airlines nowadays, that is actually pretty decent (which is kind of sad, really).

Originally Posted by bike21

I certainly hope this isn't the start of something bad.

It's already something bad.

Originally Posted by Hootie

Jeepers, I just saw this....8 pages!!! It's like 4or 5 airplanes....That doesn't even deserve a press release.

I would imagine that you would feel differently if it was your flying being outsourced. Even one airplane would be too much.

[ChasenSFO]

Another thing I find interesting is the "idle aircraft" comments. Before this announcement came out, I got a message on the employee site that we were using those "idle aircraft" for EAS flying out of ORD to Muskegon, Paducah, Eau Claire, Alpena, Sault Ste. Marie, International Falls, and Tupelo.

So if the "idle" aircraft were the reason for us picking up all the EAS routes, I wonder where the rest of these -200s are coming from.

[surreal1221]

Originally Posted by ATN_Pilot

Our scope language limits regional partnerships to no more than 70-seat aircraft, with block-hour restrictions at 20% for total outsourced flying, and 75% of that can go to aircraft between 51-70 seats. Compared to other airlines nowadays, that is actually pretty decent (which is kind of sad, really).

You boys looking to tighten that up this go round?

[GaTechKid]

Our scope language limits regional partnerships to no more than 70-seat aircraft, with block-hour restrictions at 20% for total outsourced flying, and 75% of that can go to aircraft between 51-70 seats.

What does your contract define as a "regional partnership?" That will be very important.

[Polar742]

Originally Posted by surreal1221

As Polar would say. . .

Scope.

I would say that. The important thing is to adjust our thinking to scope in today's management, and use a set of rules that they can't use the whole "You're handcuffing us to run the business!!!" garbage, but allows us to do whatever flying by whatever business vehicle they invent in their heads.

Originally Posted by surreal1221

You boys looking to tighten that up this go round?

That's classified and compartmentalized. You don't wanna give away leverage by openly stating goals online.






P.S. not that it's needed -

P.P.S. The P.S. only applies to the 2nd quote.

P.P.P.S. Not that that was needed either.

P.P.P.P.S. Is that the ten characters I need to post? Awesome *high five*

[kellwolf]

Originally Posted by ChasenSFO

Another thing I find interesting is the "idle aircraft" comments. Before this announcement came out, I got a message on the employee site that we were using those "idle aircraft" for EAS flying out of ORD to Muskegon, Paducah, Eau Claire, Alpena, Sault Ste. Marie, International Falls, and Tupelo.

So if the "idle" aircraft were the reason for us picking up all the EAS routes, I wonder where the rest of these -200s are coming from.

Tupelo? Um.....Mesaba guys missing something there? As of right now, XJ is the ONLY airline operating down there. ASA tried for a while, and they pulled out in about a year. Pretty sure XJ Saabs are going to Paducah from MEM, too. If they lose the EAS bid for those, I'd wager Saabs won't be long for the parking lot in Memphis.

[jynxyjoe]

Originally Posted by kellwolf

Tupelo? Um.....Mesaba guys missing something there? As of right now, XJ is the ONLY airline operating down there. ASA tried for a while, and they pulled out in about a year. Pretty sure XJ Saabs are going to Paducah from MEM, too. If they lose the EAS bid for those, I'd wager Saabs won't be long for the parking lot in Memphis.

Yeah we lost everything Steve. And we will be parking all the saabs.

Skywest is picking up a ****ton of our routes. Including PAH.

[kellwolf]

Originally Posted by jynxyjoe

Yeah we lost everything Steve. And we will be parking all the saabs.

Skywest is picking up a ****ton of our routes. Including PAH.

Oh.....can I have your gate?

On a side note, I was SURE scheduling was sending me to the wrong gate a couple of weeks ago. Nope. We DID get one of the old Saab parking gates. Fabulous. More gates with no jetbridge, but hey! We can park three -200s there and let the passengers walk!

[jynxyjoe]

Originally Posted by kellwolf

Oh.....can I have your gate?

On a side note, I was SURE scheduling was sending me to the wrong gate a couple of weeks ago. Nope. We DID get one of the old Saab parking gates. Fabulous. More gates with no jetbridge, but hey! We can park three -200s there and let the passengers walk!

Yeah, you guys got A21. A25 and A33 are all urs in about 2 yrs.

[ATN_Pilot]

Originally Posted by surreal1221

You boys looking to tighten that up this go round?

Yep.

[surreal1221]

Good.

Thank You.

-Non Regional Lifer.

[Airdale]

Originally Posted by ATN_Pilot

Our scope language limits regional partnerships to no more than 70-seat aircraft, with block-hour restrictions at 20% for total outsourced flying, and 75% of that can go to aircraft between 51-70 seats. Compared to other airlines nowadays, that is actually pretty decent (which is kind of sad, really).

Didn't you get the memo?

Republic is going to be flying for you guys now. Yeah....they're taking 10 E-170's and MEL'ing 6 seats and cutting our pay based on the lack of full seating.

Oh and in case you haven't heard, Bedford will own Airtran by this time next year....all your base belong to us.

[jynxyjoe]

Originally Posted by Airdale

Didn't you get the memo?

Republic is going to be flying for you guys now. Yeah....they're taking 10 E-170's and MEL'ing 6 seats and cutting our pay based on the lack of full seating.

Oh and in case you haven't heard, Bedford will own Airtran by this time next year....all your base belong to us.

Common man. Go easy.

We're all scared of what the future is holding, and as you know or will know, the longer you are in this biz the more you have to lose.

[ppragman]

A regional outsourcing to another regional, lol.