Sustainability
TMR would have been diligent with the assessment process. In doing so would have discovered a lip service approach to safety, a complete lack of industry experience within the senior management team and grave concerns over the ability to articulate their pricing model. TMR did not determine the outcome on price were this the case status quo would have remained. TMR based on the data gleaned through the assessment process would have been justifiably concerned about the sustainability of Skytrans.
Once upon a time this business had competent senior management across the key departments, during the negotiation stages with TMR this team would have drawn TMRs attention to the equipment differences. SAAB developed for the northern hemisphere are great cold weather aeroplane for 5 months the summer temperatures in the areas of operation will preclude the SAAB from operating with greater than 26 pax with normal baggage, the lack of APU and therefore airconditioner's on turns present a major HSE exposure for pax, the 35-40 minute sector lengths will create battery temp and therefore start issues. This on the 8 sector western runs will cause delays pushing duty to point of ports being overflown. None of this is fantasy, rather fact based on Macair history. The Dh8 has demonstrated outstanding reliability for 5 plus years and in the gulf doubled the patronage based on it's better hot and high performance. The current class of Skytrans managers will gain this knowledge from reading this post.
In a two horse race Skytrans lost this job and REX secured it by default. The management need to accept this rather than push the poor me, government don't buy local emotional tripe.
Move on and address the problems they have created for themselves and either pack up or engage a team that is capable of turning the business around.
For it's part The government needs to start grooming an operator for the cape in the event the encumbent continues with the behaviours of the recent past.
Good to see REX have already engaged some of the competent team that HR masters degree holder let go in order to assemble the current crack commercial squad at Slytrans!