Mesa Air Group is close to finalising a deal for a new batch of 50-seat regional jets, but the carrier is seriously considering switching aircraft supplier to Embraer from the incumbent Bombardier.
The Phoenix, Arizona-based independent regional airline operates 24 Bombardier Canadair Regional Jets (CRJ) on franchises for America West and US Airways Express. The carrier has eight more Regional Jets due for delivery this year.
The airline, which last year withdrew from other markets when it lost its United Airlines feeder contract, is looking to expand operations for existing customers and is in discussions for additional aircraft.
"We are going to order about 40 more regional jets as our partners want us to expand," says Mesa's chief executive Jonathan Ornstein. He adds that deliveries are wanted as soon as possible and that the new aircraft "probably won't come from Bombardier" making Embraer the favourite to clinch the new deal.
Although the early delivery requirement favours Embraer as the CRJ availability is tight until 2001, other issues are understood to be behind Ornstein's decision to consider another supplier. There are believed to have been contractual issues with Bombardier over the Regional Jet orders.
These are understood to have arisen amid the airline's financial difficulties last year when its United Express contract was terminated and Bombardier threatened not to honour certain contractual arrangements.
Although Mesa's CRJ fleet is divided evenly between the two majors, the airline's US Airways Express business produces almost two-thirds of its sales.
Source: Flight International
