Wed, Jul 09, 2008
It Just Doesn't Pay To Fly 50-Seat Jets Right Now
With oil prices hovering just south of $150 per barrel, it
doesn't make financial sense to operate small commercial jets on
short routes. The operating costs can't be recouped on a per-seat
basis, unless air fares are sky-high to the point passengers
wouldn't pay them, anyway. Following in the footsteps of another
regional that tried to fly under its own colors,
Independence Air, this week ExpressJet
Airlines announced it will suspend flying under its own livery in
September.
As ANN reported Tuesday, ExpressJet mutually
agreed to terminate its agreements with Delta Air Lines effective
September 1. The airline has since announced it will cease its
branded commercial passenger flight operations on September 2. The
39 aircraft currently used in these operations will be among those
returned to the lessor no later than June 2009.
Shutting down ExpressJet's branded ops will leave the
Houston-based airline with one major contract, flying a fleet of
205 aircraft as Continental Express to more than 150 destinations.
The airline will also continue to serve charter customers with a
fleet of 30 dedicated aircraft, through ExpressJet Corporate
Aviation.
"On behalf of everyone at ExpressJet Airlines, I would like to
express our gratitude to the communities that provided such a warm
welcome and were always supportive of our branded service," said
Jim Ream, President and CEO. "If we had any other choice, we would
not take this difficult action. However, rising fuel prices has
made the operation impossible to sustain."
Tickets on ExpressJet Airlines for travel prior to September 2
will not be affected; the airline plans to continue selling tickets
for flights prior to that date. However, customers holding tickets
for a flight after September 1, 2008 should contact ExpressJet
Reservations at 888-958-XJET (9538) to request a refund.
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