Mesa air group US Regional Plans European Start up

[bafanguy]

Interesting and ambitious:

"US regional carrier Mesa Airlines has announced its plans to start a new carrier across the Atlantic in Europe. The Phoenix-based airline plans to utilize Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft, of which it is already an extensive operator in the US, for this joint venture. Mesa hopes to get its new project off the ground by the end of the year."

https://simpleflying.com/mesa-airlines-new-european-airline/

[osborne]

Having operated on behalf of US legacy airlines, does Mesa know how to be a Low Cost Carrier ?

[733driver]

For what it's worth, they don't have the best reputation as employer, not even by US regional airline standards.

[bafanguy]

osborne

Beats the heck outta me.

733driver,

Not defending them but I seriously doubt their reputation as an employer matters much these days...or in any days to come. They've been around a rather long time with no trouble staffing pilot positions.

I predict that if they actually set up a European operation there'll be a stampede to apply for the positions. Just my humble opinion. :ok:

[BA318]

A joint venture operating CRJ900 sounds very much like what SAS usually goes for. They have done with Jetx, Nordica, Cityjet, Cimber. And seems to change partners as and when it suits them so perhaps they will be a target for this operator.

[SWBKCB]

Didn't Mesa plan to do something similar a couple of years ago? Where they linked with flyBe at one stage?

[racedo]

Planning to stop where and where and where to make the journey fully loaded.

[roverman]

Sounds like they plan to fly within Europe rather than between the USA and Europe.

[PAXboy]

Hope springs eternal. Where do they expect to find pax? All existing carriers will be full of offers, so Mesa would have to undercut to get market share and, in due course, put their prices to the correct level. We have seen this game before!

[bafanguy]

SWBKCB

"Mesa’s previous effort to expand internationally ended in 2009, when it sold its 49 percent stake in China’s Kunpeng Airlines to joint venture partner Shenzhen Airlines, less than two years after announcing plans to launch the operation with CRJ200s."

https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/air-transport/2021-03-02/mesa-air-group-looks-enter-european-market

[racedo]

roverman

ROFL..................... good luck with that idea. Now if only Europe had low cost airlines who needed this competition.

Came across this with a very good US company 20 years ago, a major investment that would take 9 months to complete, they just suggested sacking the employees not needed and rehiring others when project finished. Genuine shock when they realised the protection employees had to arbitrary dismissal and the cost involved. They costed 2 weeks notice for everyone and genuine shock when they realised that just 2 people with 20 years service would have eaten up the whole budget and there was 100 people involved. They did adapt / learn and project was a success, a lot to do with the workforce as well during implementation.

The idea sounds like a pipe dream thought up without any thought.

[harriewillem]

The idea works on paper... Mesa 160 aircraft at 2 major clients and few with client 3 DHL... But the American model does not work in Europe.. We have not 50 states but 50 countries all with their little rules and own airlines our market is to scattered....

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1426x906/microsoftteams_image_f5c04b8e1a160868a5114e42e494469e677989a 9.png

[BA318]

Except a large number of those countries all share the same EU rules and there are plenty of airline groups which cross borders in Europe even outside the EU - IAG, Lufthansa Group, Ryanair, EasyJet, Wizz, SAS.

This exact model is already being used by Cityjet, also previously Flybe and several airlines in Germany who flew for Lufthansa.

[N707ZS]

We have room for a nice hub/base at Teesside UK.

[SWBKCB]

Didn't Mesa plan to do something similar a couple of years ago? Where they linked with flyBe at one stage?

Back in February 2019An Arizona-based commuter airline is backing a proposal to shore up the finances of Flybe, the struggling regional carrier, in a last-ditch effort to scupper a takeover led by Virgin Atlantic Airways.

Sky News can exclusively reveal that Mesa Air Group, which is headquartered in Phoenix, is part of a consortium which has tabled an offer to inject £65m of new equity into Flybe.

https://news.sky.com/story/arizona-airline-mesa-swoops-with-bid-to-ground-flybe-deal-11642267

[SWBKCB]

Looks like they don't intend to operate flights in their own right. From Flight

Mesa Air Group on 2 March announced a conditional agreement with London-based Gramercy Associates to launch a joint venture to operate Mesa’s Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft on passenger or cargo routes in Europe by the end of 2021.

The Phoenix-based parent company of Mesa Airlines would apply for a new air operator’s certificate to qualify for capacity purchase agreements or ACMI deals with carriers in Europe. Mesa would own 49% of the partnership with Gramercy, whose managing director is Tony Davis, the former chief executive of both Singapore-based Tiger Airways and the now-defunct UK carrier Bmibaby

https://www.flightglobal.com/strategy/mesa-plans-joint-venture-to-fly-crj900s-in-europe/142709.article

[mikkie4]

N707ZS SOUTHEND would be better (but then i am biased )

[Buster the Bear]

Sound like one of the debt bloated legacy airlines hiving off regional operations to Mesa.

[Flightrider]

They're probably the next poor sods to be suckered into flying for SAS thinking it's a great deal. SAS like to have more than one provider but the income and costs of many who have tried to make it work over the years have always been mismatched. JetTime, CityJet, Cimber, Flybe... it's not a happy place to be. And I'm sure I've missed a few off that list.

Good luck to Mesa.

[Spector42]

imagine crossing the pond in an RJ

[fjencl]

Has there been any mention of where in Europe they propose to Base........

[SWBKCB]

As they don't seem to plan on operating in their own right, it will depend on what partnerships they can get signed up.

[TartinTon]

My money's on MUC/FRA partnering with LH...they know how much value they used to get out of bmi

[BACsuperVC10]

This airline has had a setup in the UK in the mid 90s under the name Community Express. They operated EMA and BHX to LGW, BHX to BHD and LPL to BFS and LGW

[racedo]

Spector42

Lol .................... hence my comment of stopping where and where and where.

A journey you might do... ONCE, and after that s

[racedo]

SWBKCB

UK/EU ownership rules preclude that. I doubt it will ever get off the ground..................pun intended.

[mmeteesside]

The mention of cargo is interesting... you wouldn’t do that with CRJ900s for sure. With their recent addition of cargo flying contracted to DHL do they spot an opportunity in Europe (perhaps with Amazon?) to fill a gap and perhaps build some regional flying on the side... it’s an odd concept for sure!

[poppiholla]

My money's on MUC/FRA partnering with LH...they know how much value they used to get out of bmi

... and maybe BER Brandenburg ?

[Buster the Bear]

Mesa are slowly adding 737 freighters to their fleet.