United Airlines will have one less pin on its route map later this year.
12.07.2024 - 16:36 / travelpulse.com / Rich Thomaselli
It’s not just the major airlines that are struggling with the economy.
So are the regional carriers.
Mesa Airlines said in an email to its pilots that 53 of them will have to be furloughed. Mesa operates in Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado, among other western states. Ironically, the carrier is coming off a quarter where it turned a net profit of $6.3 million. Modest, but a profit, nonetheless.
The airline said its pilot attrition level was lower than expected. It still operates nearly 70 planes but appears to have a surplus of equipment that it is selling. It’s easy to extrapolate that you don’t need to pay as many pilots if you don’t have as many planes.
Many of the jets have been sold to another regional carrier in SkyWest. Mesa now flies exclusively with United Airlines under the banner of United Express.
“Given the current level of attrition and ongoing discussions with United to increase utilization, we are hopeful to begin recalling pilots prior to the end of the year,” Mesa CEO Jonathan Ornstein said as part of a statement.
United has made cuts to its regional carriers in the past.
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United Airlines will have one less pin on its route map later this year.
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