Another US Start-Up Airline ?
 

This is ambitious but Neeleman does have a long track record with this kind of thing. Do people start airlines if they don't believe they can find pilots to fly the airplanes ?:

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...ine&yptr=yahoo

Skybus 2.0?

Could be, I suppose. But this guy has a history that makes him worth watching. He might be able to attract some investors.

Oh, I don't doubt that...it's more that those investors may never see any returns...

havick,

That's THE question. But people are starting airlines around the world on a pretty regular basis apparently without a concern for filling seats.

I wouldn't think Neeleman would be making this move unless he was confident of a pilot supply.

Seats WILL be filled if he actually goes ahead with the plan.

Same place this outfit would get 'em ;):

https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/n...gured-crj-700s

Nearing an airplane choice ?:

https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/n...airline-report

And an A320 start up in California, AirBahn ? Really ?

https://www.corporationwiki.com/p/31eybj/airbahn-inc

It's coming !!

http://airbahn.com/

The first outfit I'd start shopping would be Frontier. Years away from a contract, leave cancelled for the 3rd. month in a row and contract negotiations stuck at the NMDB....

The latest from Neeleman and "Moxy". I wonder what he means by this. So every possible approach hasn't already been tried ?:

"Neeleman promised 'innovative approaches' to recruiting pilots'..."


https://skift.com/2018/09/21/jetblue...to-fly-planes/

Now that you mention it, I do have a vague recollection of a pic of someone's E-jet from some start up...can't remember details. Could it be this outfit with a different airplane ?

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-rele...300702881.html

This is at least the third version of CalPac. They previously had a single E175 painted in their colors, now I guess it's E145s. They also had a CEO who used to drink with Noah himself and was one of the original contractors on The Tower Of Babel project.

Marketing wise I am starting to smell the cookies they used to have on Air Midwest. Secondary cities, business class seats, if you want that, and point to point service. It's been done before but both Air Midwest and lately OneJet have failed. Neeleman is a smart guy but he doesn't have a lot of wiggle room here, and when the majors see an impact on a city pair they will drop the price, even if it means a connection. On a city-pair basis It's a minor low impact hit to their bottom line of a Major but a real heat to Moxy. .

Neeleman may end up having a decent market for his product. If a passenger is heading from somewhere in Florida to his home near, say, Danbury, CT - would he pick JFK, LGA, EWR or Hartford for his destination? I personally would avoid the NYC area unless I was actually headed there. So a non-stop flight into Hartford would be my pick, if available.

With the fuel savings of the A220/C Series, I think Neeleman could give the more established carriers a good run for their money. Plus it doesn't look like he's planning to start small - the order is for 60 of the larger version. Unless the majors start breaking their hub and spoke model and begin offering non-stop flights between smaller cities, I'm not sure how well they can compete if a passenger values time and does not want to take a connecting flight.

I'm still intrigued by Neeleman's claim he'll use 'innovative approaches' to recruiting pilots.

Looks like California Pacific has actually launched:

https://airwaysmag.com/airlines/cali...nes-inaugural/

Still waiting for more info on Moxy and their "innovative approaches" to pilot recruiting. :E

Pakistan's AirBlue opening up a U.S. airline? :confused:

Can't believe Vallas is still alive.

Moxy presses ahead:

https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/n...nserved-routes

It'll be "innovative" !!! :ok:

An interview with Neeleman re Moxy. Notice what worries him the most about the startup. Not getting pilots but getting airplanes. I guess he's confident about his "innovative" approach to recruiting pilots:

"So what worries you the most?
Getting the planes."

https://www.cntraveler.com/story/jet...on-new-airline

Innovative:

1. We'll hire marginally qualified pilots and pay them only a tiny bit less than the lowest wage paid to pilots who are actually well qualified.
2. We'll hire qualified pilots away from other under-paying airlines by offering a truly competitive market-value wage.

Place your bets!

It's going to be interesting. JetBlue placing an order for the CS...errr...A220 to fly in house is a good sign, indicating that they're not interested in starting a "regional subsidiary". Moxy sounds a bit like Independence Air back in the day, hopefully better run, though.

soon enough the pendulum will swing, and the airlines will begin their traditional down swing "right-sizing", and this airline will be in the right position to pick up the small pieces...Neelman is no fool...

exactly...

Any day now !! The excitement builds ;) :

Airbahn: New Website Coming Soon!!

https://newsroom.aviator.aero/airbah...nned-for-2019/

I suppose this doesn't sound exactly like a "US" start up but they are starting a US base. What airline are they talking about...Norwegian ? I can't keep track of what they're doing:

“First 2 Resource is seeking EASA Licensed B737 Captains & First Officers for our newly established European Client for their Base in Miami for a 6month renewable contract.”


https://www.latestpilotjobs.com/jobs/view/id/14244.html

The new JetBlue pilot CBA prohibits regional subsidiaries.

As for Moxy recruiting, they'll probably offer something like stock options to make up for the lower pay.

What's this about ? No mention of citizenship or pertinent details:

https://www.latestpilotjobs.com/jobs/view/id/1782.html

Looks like a European charter from a US/Canadian operator. Some US/Canadian airlines provide up to 7 months operations for summer months (e.g. Sunwing / Sun Country). The 8th month would probably be one to get the crew trained up.

I don't understand why they just don't say who the airline is. What's the big secret ?

Wouldn't an existing operator just use their existing pilot group for a series of seasonal charters ?

Wouldn't a Canadian operator be looking for Canadian pilots ? Unless they were going to get temporary license validations for FAA licensed pilots to fly C-registered airplanes ?

Sunwing is advertising for pilots but it appears to be the permanent variety:

"A career at Sunwing Airlines means you can be the difference by joining a dedicated and caring team that is part of North America’s largest vertically integrated travel company. Sunwing is a large airline, with a close sense of community which will make you love going to work everyday! "

https://jobs.jobvite.com/sunwing/job/oVrE9fwT

And they just keep coming. Here's the latest. While I don't think they'll have much trouble finding pilots, it's a bold move for experienced people to leave a secure gig and roll the dice on a start up. It's paid off for some over the years but smallish numbers in the Big Scheme of things. These ventures are fun to watch:

https://www.aerotime.aero/aerotime.t...-in-the-making

That's my understanding too. Perhaps they just can't get pilots from the US to work on the European summer leases. It might be cheaper for them to get FAA qualified pilots and simply give them a European base. This could save them money on positioning and relocation allowances.

The ad is intriguing but doesn't have enough info to tell what's going on. I suppose they'll find all the pilots they need but how many freelance FAA B737-800 F/Os are floating around looking for short term employment in the current US hiring environment ?

N-registered airplanes ? I assume they are.

Still like to know who the company is.

My guess is Sun Country. They've added new aircraft and have a new owner who has an eye for cutting costs. If they make this work I reckon it would be cheaper than sending MSP based crew over for 7 months.

Could be, I guess. They are represented by ALPA but I don't know if their contract has scope restrictions that would allow something like the operation mentioned in the ad. And they only advertised for FOs so where are the captains coming from ?:

Sun Country - ALPA