Atlantic Coast Airlines (ACA) is pressing United Airlines for unlimited use of regional jets under 50 seats as it places a conditional order with Fairchild Aerospace for up to 110 328/428JETs to replace British Aerospace Jetstream 32 and Jetstream 41 turboprops.
The United Express carrier wants to phase out its 28 J32s by the end of next year, while some of its 32 larger J41s will also be replaced.
Fairchild is understood to be assisting ACA to place the 19-seat J32s, the earliest lease agreement on which does not expire until 2001. "We know we're not going to be able to return the aircraft to plan without some charge to our earnings," concedes an ACA executive.
Deliveries of the 25 328JETs will match the phasing out of the J31s, while the first of 30 428JETS will arrive from late 2002. ACA has options on 55 aircraft. The final delivery schedule and mix of 32 and 44-seat aircraft hinges on United reaching a new scope clause agreement with its pilots.
United Express carriers are capped at 65 jets seating 50 passengers or less. United is negotiating to increase this to 284 aircraft seating up to 45. ACA is pushing for as high a ceiling as possible. "We would like to have unlimited use of aircraft seating 44 passengers or under, like American Eagle, simply to compete," says a senior ACA source. The carrier's only alternative is to operate the jets in its own right and not under the United Express banner.
United Express operator Air Wisconsin is also awaiting the outcome of the scope clause talks before deciding on a new fleet of 35-seat jets. The carrier is, meanwhile, bolstering its 10 328 turboprops with six former Mountain Air Express and Horizon Air aircraft on lease from Fairchild.
The 328JET has been awarded US Federal Aviation Administration after European certification earlier this month.
Source: Flight International
