ExpressJet is experimenting with new twists to the typical regional carrier business model.
Forced by its former parent's decision a year ago to reject some of its flying, ExpressJet is trying to find new homes for 69 of its 274 Embraer ERJs. It will devote 15 of these to a new business jet charter unit, ExpressJet Corporate.
Chief executive Jim Ream says it will use the other 54 E-145s flying for "either a US carrier or a foreign carrier or branded flying". It has found "some opportunities that should work pretty well" in point-to-point branded flying, which would involve ExpressJet selling its own scheduled services. But a sceptical Raymond James & Associates analyst Jim Parker calls this "one of the last alternatives".
ExpressJet has also looked at overseas flying, but Ream says this "is going to have to take a back seat".
Source: Airline Business
