Republic Takes First E-170s For Us Airways Express

[HighFlyerMiami]

Republic Airways Announces the Lease of Three Embraer 170's from GECAS
Wednesday August 31, 9:34 am ET


INDIANAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 31, 2005--Republic Airways Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:RJET - News) announced today that it has acquired three Embraer 170 aircraft previously committed for delivery to US Airways. The three aircraft will be leased from General Electric Commercial Aviation Services and placed into service on the Republic Airlines operating certificate. These are the first of 28 Embraer 170 aircraft that Republic will acquire and operate under the US Airways Express brand. Two of the new aircraft will enter revenue service on September 4, 2005. The remaining 25 aircraft will be phased-in over the next 12 months.
Republic Airways Holdings, based in Indianapolis, Indiana is an airline holding company that operates Chautauqua Airlines, Republic Airlines and Shuttle America. The company offers scheduled passenger service on more than 840 flights daily to 82 cities in 32 states, Canada and the Bahamas through airline services agreements with four major U.S. airlines. All of its flights are operated under its major airline partner brand, such as AmericanConnection, Delta Connection, United Express and US Airways Express. The airline currently employs more than 2,900 aviation professionals and operates 131 aircraft including 31 Embraer 170 aircraft.



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[BoeingBoy]

The transfer of the planes begins.....

Whether the deal is complete (meaning the sale agreement has been consumated) or merely "complete" (meaning that the transfer is underway) is beside the point. All that's left to decide, through arbitration and/or lawsuit, is how many of the current Emb-170 folks go with the planes and under what conditions. Anything else - CBS messages being possible FUD, where's the press release, etc - is merely whistling past the graveyard .....

A couple of other tidbits:

MarketWatch
Market Pulse: Republic Airlines passenger ops for US Airways starts Sept
Tuesday August 30, 3:10 pm ET
By Carolyn Pritchard

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Republic Airways Holdings Inc. said Tuesday that its Republic Airlines subsidiary has received its Part 121 Airworthiness Certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration. It subsequently expects to start scheduled passenger operations for US Airways Group Inc.'s US Airways Express unit in September. Republic Airlines said it currently plans to operate 28 aircraft on behalf of US Airways.

From Republics last quarterly report:

On June 23, 2005, US Airways exercised its option to (i) sell 137 unrestricted commuter slots and 10 ERJ-170 aircraft and other related assets to us and (ii) assign the leases for 18 ERJ-170 aircraft (including three subject to new leases) to us for $110 million and assume aircraft debt of $169 million and operating lease obligations of $270 million. We anticipate that the purchase of the assets will occur on or before August 31, 2005. After Republic Airlines is certified, we expect to begin the transition of these 28 ERJ-170 aircraft from US Airways.

Jim

 

[HighFlyerMiami]

It does seem that no matter how much folks would like to think this deal isn't going through, that Republic has every intention of making it happen. As you say the arbitration board will decide on the jobs issue, but as for Republic, well: "These are the first of 28 Embraer 170 aircraft that Republic will acquire and operate under the US Airways Express brand. Two of the new aircraft will enter revenue service on September 4, 2005."

 

[USA320Pilot]

BoeingBoy's comments are accurate. The LOA 91 arbitration is about "fragmentation" rights. ALPA does not object to US Airways selling assets, it objects to US Airways not honoring ALPA's contractual rights in regard to the MDA pilots.

If ALPA wins the grievance every MDA will have the right to a job at Republic with the ALPA contract in place. Then if no agreement is reached with Republic and the IBT then the deal will not proceed, according to Jerry Glass' remarks to ALPA.

Regards,

USA320Pilot

 

[fr8tmastr]

While it looks bad for MDA, everyone must keep in mind that management lies. They will manipulate, steal, embezel, and fabricate anything they can think of to make things go their way. Example: they put out messages on Saber claiming the deal is done, only to be denied in the arbitration on Monday. Bedford is very nervous right now, and he should be, US Airways has guaranteed his profit for the next ten years while at the same time cutting their own throats. He does not want to see this windfall paid for by the U employees go away. So he has been pushing every which way to get this deal complete. If he has possesion of any parts of MDA it will take a crow bar to get them out of his hands. If and when the MDA pilots prevail in the arbitration, it will get really interesting.

 

[Rico]

Well, someone had to take em off the factories hands, whatever...

On a more important note, the pilots of MidAtlantic have began to collect numerous names of E-170 pilots willing and able to donate their off time to fly relief flights into the gulf coast region if possible. Captain Lyle Hogg has been advised and has promised to present the idea to authorities and see what can be put together.

THAT is yet another reason I am proud of my fellow E-170 pilots.

Hope it happens, it would be great to do somethinig of value to those in need...

 

[Hope777]

Too bad the 170 does not have the ability to handle very much cargo in the holds.


Good airplane from a passengers view point, horrible from a cargo stand point.