United Airlines has selected SkyWest Airlines to replace Mesa Air Group's WestAir as the United Express regional carrier in San Francisco, California, from 1 June.
SkyWest began United Express operations in October 1997, replacing WestAir in Los Angeles. The carrier says that talks continue with United about also replacing WestAir on Express operations from Seattle and Portland. United says that it will not renew its codeshare agreement with WestAir when it expires on 31 May, and talks continue over the future of Mesa Airlines' troubled United Express operations from Denver.
SkyWest operates ten Bombardier Canadair Regional Jets (CRJs) and 50 Embraer EMB-120 Brasilias. The San Francisco operations will require 17 more of the 30-seat EMB-120s.
The airline says that it is negotiating to acquire the additional aircraft, some of which could be new EMB-120s from Embraer. SkyWest may also operate CRJs on United Express services. It operates its other CRJs from Salt Lake City for Delta.
Source: Flight International
