Two CRJ-700s To Replace Eight 50-Seat Airplanes

Sometimes, less is more. Such is apparently the case for Mesa Air Group, Inc., which announced Tuesday an agreement with United Airlines to replace eight 50 seat Bombardier CRJ-200s with two 66 seat Bombardier CRJ-700s.

The two CRJ-700s (type shown above) will be added to Mesa's existing contract. The aircraft will enter service in the spring of 2008 and have a 10 year term.

"We are delighted to add larger, longer term aircraft to our fleet with United," said Mesa Chairman and CEO Jonathan Ornstein. "We very much appreciate their confidence in Mesa and look forward to working with the United team."

Once the aircraft enter service in 2008, Mesa will operate a total of 22 CRJ-700 aircraft for United Express. These two new CRJ-700 aircraft are in addition to a previously announced order for 10 CRJ-700's which will progressively join the fleet beginning in 2008.

Mesa currently operates 185 aircraft with over 1,100 daily system departures to 184 cities, 45 states, the District of Columbia, Canada, the Bahamas and Mexico. Mesa operates as Delta Connection, US Airways Express and United Express under contractual agreements with Delta Air Lines, US Airways and United Airlines, respectively, and independently as Mesa Airlines and go!, Mesa's inter-island Hawaiian service.

Founded by Larry and Janie Risley in New Mexico in 1982, Mesa has approximately 5,000 employees, and is a member of the Regional Airline Association and Regional Aviation Partners.

FMI: www.mesa-air.com