For ExpressJet and CommutAir, the stakes are high. United Airlines has said it will only renew a contract with one, not both United Express carriers. That means only one company will likely survive.
United Airlines Will Reduce Regional Flights, Consolidate United Express Carriers
United Airlines owns a minority stake in both ExpressJet and CommutAir. Over the years, it has used both carriers to operate 50-seat Embraer E-145 jets to feed the United mainline network. But with COVID-19 fundamentally changing the airline industry, United plans to maintain ties with ExpressJet or CommutAir, but not both.
United refused to provide more details, but told Reuters that the pandemic will “impact” the relationship with its regional partners:
“We’ve been clear for months now that we expect to be a smaller airline in response to the historic impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on our business. That means we’ve cut our schedules and our costs across the operation – and we do anticipate it will continue to impact the relationships we have with our regional partners.”
It is not clear when or how the decision will be made between the two carriers.
ExpressJet Or CommutAir?
While ExpressJet has the larger fleet (95 versus 37 aircraft), CommutAir has a lower cost structure. That has worried ExpressJet pilots, whose union leader told pilots:
“While ExpressJet offers many attributes that make us an attractive long-term partner, cost has reared its ugly head once again and we have been asked by our management team to close the gap between our costs and those at CommutAir.”
ExpressJet lost its contract with Delta Air Lines in 2018 and American Airlines in 2019, in part because of United Airlines’ closer relationship.
United offers both CommutAir and ExpressJet pilots a fast-tracked first officer mainline hiring program, but with the surplus in pilots (and furloughs looming) there will be no further hiring at this time.
CONCLUSION
Dark days for CommutAir and ExpressJet. Since both partner exclusively with United, only one will likely survive. And United’s strategic announcement now will likely put them in a bidding war, meaning that the pilots and flight attendants who prevail may well end up with lower wages and harsher working conditions. Welcome to the pandemic era of aviation.
image: CommutAir
How could united Express be any worse?
I’m all for whichever means for fewer terrible 50 seat, non-F/E+ RJs UA likes to fly on 1,000 mile flights
i agree with rjb. Why the lowest common denominator? ALPA and UAL should strike a deal, make regional flying cost effective and UAL will insource the entire operation. Seems to me like a deal worth putting some time on.
Whatever arrangement results in the lowest odds of being stuck in a non-IFE, no-Wifi, E-145 for more than one hour would be all right with me. I’ve ended up on smaller RJ’s (not E-175) on UA routes such as ORD-BWI or ORD-ATL and it’s pretty ridiculous. Anything that will get rid of that would be welcome.
Actually before COVID UA was getting ready to add IFE to the ERJ145. Internet however not so much.
Streaming IFE. Hopefully that may still come one day:
https://liveandletsfly.com/united-erj-145-ife/
It was Internet, power sources, and new led lighting that was going to be invested in the ExpressJet 145s. Covid changed that plan.
What about SkyWest?
SkyWest not impacted by this announcement.
Wow. too bad these airlines put all their eggs in one (United’s) basket. Although sad that one airline shuts down United is making a very shrewd move.
I wonder how many more commuter airlines we’ll lose in the next 12 months
Well we’re already down two (Compass and Trans States)
There’s still SkyWest and Mesa as well.
Lovelace, neither carrier has a choice. UAL owns 49% of ExpressJet and 40% of CommutAir. With those high equity stakes, UAL prohibits either carrier from diversifying their flying to other airlines. In fact, one condition of their new CPA in 2016 was for ExpressJet to cut American and Delta flying. And that was before the 49% purchase of ExpressJet in 2018.
Yeah, it would just be great if these airlines fold. Wont it. I mean screw the families whose survival depends on the income from these airlines. As long as we can get wifi, and internet on a 2 hour flight, that is all that matters, right Those people can just go out and find new jobs right, because there are so many airline jobs available at the moment. Families who are already down to one income because someone has to stay at home to school their kids. People who, if they are lucky to find another avaiatin job, have given 20-25 years to these companies who will have to start over from the bottom with a fraction of their previous pay? You people are heartless and it disgusts me. Some families lives literally hang in the balance of what a stupid greedy union decides to do. They never ONCE consider or put thought into anyone else within these companies, as long as they are getting their monthly union dues. Unions have ruined airlines, they are worthless money grabbers. People within these airlines have already taken pay cuts to ensure these stupid contracts are met. Their working overtime to keep things running but not getting paid overtime and even take a cut in pay. People who have already been laid off or voluntarily taken leave to help save these companies. Yet, all some of you can do is complain about wifi?
Hopefully they renew the contract with Expressjet and not Commutair.
This Airline is the bottom of all. Felt 98% on delays or cancellations.
Crews are unfriendly and the planes are looking like 1970. It’s time to go for Commutair
Commutairs planes look exactly the same as expressjet. If anything commutairs are the newer XRs vs the LRs
Wow.. They chose Commutairs cheap labor. I guess landing close to a runway is good enough for UNITED. Shows how much UNTIED cares for its passengers/customers.