International Airline Support Group (IASG) has agreed to help US regional Mesa Air Group dispose of 21 British Aerospace Jetstream 31s and 20 Embraer EMB-120 Brasilias. The aircraft are leased by Mesa subsidiary WestAir, which was wound up when its United Express codeshare contract expired on 31 May.
Peter Murnane, IASG chief financial officer, says the Atlanta, Georgia-based aviation services company will try to sublease the aircraft or negotiate their return to the lessors. Murnane is a general partner in investor Barlow Partners, a shareholder in Mesa Air Group.
Meanwhile, Raytheon Aircraft has helped Mesa place 24 of its 118 Beech 1900Ds and is discussing the placement of another 10-20 aircraft. With the end of its United Express services, Mesa expects to continue operating some 110 aircraft as America West Express and US Airways Express.
Source: Flight International
