Feeder carrier to fly CRJ700s, but details of aircraft deal shrouded in secrecy
Trans States Holdings, the parent company of US regional carrier Trans States Airlines, has signed a deal with United Airlines to operate a new Bombardier CRJ700 feeder carrier from St Louis, Missouri. The new airline will be named GoJet and will begin operating from 1 August with two aircraft.
Initial destinations have still to be set by United, Trans States says in its application for GoJet's air operator certificate, filed last week. The filing says the planned carrier will "build up to" five aircraft within the first six months of the new feeder contract. The fleet will be expanded to 10 CRJ700s by August 2006, and will eventually grow to as many as 30 aircraft.
William Mishk, Trans States' vice-president of marketing and planning, confirms that the company signed a letter of intent (LoI) with Bombardier on 26 November "after concluding initial discussions" with the manufacturer, but will not comment on the number of aircraft included in the deal, or how they will be purchased.
The US Department of Transportation paperwork describing GoJet's financing deal is censored, as requested by Trans States. The only wording on its LoI is: "GoJet has secured guaranteed financing for up to 30 Bombardier CRJ700s. The manufacturer, Bombardier, has made the commitment to GoJet." Bombardier declines to comment.
Trans States Holdings - which already flies a scope-clause-limited 50-seater United Express service as Trans States Airlines from St Louis - will operate the new United Express carrier under a fixed-fee contract. United, as with many of the USA's major carriers, including Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines, has indicated that future network plans include a shift of domestic capacity from mainline to regional feeder services, preferably with 70- to 90-seat aircraft.
DARREN SHANNON / WASHINGTON DC
Source: Flight International
