United Airlines has selected Houston-based regional ExpressJet Airlines to operate 22 Embraer ERJ-145 aircraft under the United Express brand starting in May 2010.
Chicago-based United in August issued a request for proposal covering operations currently flown by partners whose contracts expire next year. Subsequently Unitedopted not to renew two agreements with Phoenix-based Mesa Air Group covering 10 Dash 8 turboprops and 26 CRJ200s. Those aircraft are expected to cycle out of United's system by the end of April 2010.
"ExpressJet offered us the most competitive bid, enabling us to continue to operate efficiently in this difficult environment," United vice president of airport operations planning and United Express Cindy Szadokierski says in a statement.
The carrier says that the ExpressJet contract will replace flying previously done by its other Express partners whose contracts have expired, and is consistent with the 2010 capacity outlook that United provided in its third quarter investors conference call.
ExpressJet president and CEO Jim Ream adds that the contract is a multi-year arrangement.
The long-term agreement between United and ExpressJet follows two short-term arrangements the carriers previously forged. In June of this year ExpressJet operated 10 ERJ-145s on for United, and in 2008 ExpressJet flew three ERJ-145s for United during the US spring break travel period.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
