MESA AIR GROUP has agreed to purchase 16 Bombardier Canadair Regional Jets, and take options on 16 more of the 50-seat twinjets. The firm orders are valued at $320 million, with deliveries to the US regional airline to begin in early 1997.
Farmington, New Mexico-based Mesa began evaluating alternative regional jets after it decided to terminate the leases on two Fokker 70s operated by its Mountain West division, citing the Dutch manufacturer's bankruptcy. Aircraft evaluated included the AI(R) Avro RJ and Embraer EMB-145, as well as used Fokker 100s.
The Canadair aircraft is already in US-regional service with Delta Connection carriers Comair and Skywest Airlines.
Privately held Mesa has not revealed which of its six airline divisions will receive the aircraft. Mesa already has 25 Bombardier de Havilland Dash 8-200s on firm order, plus another 25 on option.
Source: Flight International
