Airlines ExpressJet announces strategy changes

The airline confirmed in a statement that ExpressJet and Delta Air Lines mutually agreed to initiate the wind-down of its remaining dual-class flying agreement under the Delta Connection brand, allowing ExpressJet opportunities to place aircraft with other partners. The agreement, which includes 28 CRJ900s and 33 CRJ700s, was previously scheduled to expire beginning in 2019. The aircraft financed by Delta, including all CRJ900s, will be returned to Delta beginning in fourth quarter 2017.

ExpressJet expects to transition other aircraft previously operated under its Delta agreement to other major partners throughout 2018. One of these partners is United Airlines. ExpressJet has secured a new, five-year extension of its United Airlines ERJ145 contract, effective Jan. 1, 2018 through Dec. 31, 2022. ExpressJet operates over 100 Embraer aircraft for the United Airlines subsidiary United Express. Additionally, ExpressJet has secured an agreement with American Airlines to transition eight additional CRJ700s to its American Eagle operation. That transition is expected to take place during second quarter 2018.

“Today’s announcement provides structural strength, visibility and positive momentum to ExpressJet Airlines,” said Chip Childs, Chief Executive Officer of SkyWest, Inc. Headquartered in Atlanta, ExpressJet is one of the biggest U.S. capacity provider with an average of 1,077 daily flights and an all-jet fleet of 228 aircraft. ExpressJet operates as American Eagle, Delta Connection and United Express to serve more than 164 airports in the U.S., Canada, Caribbean and Mexico.