Briefs

Bombardier has stated that it will continue to deliver RJs ordered by Atlantic Coast Airlines (ACA), despite a warning by the carrier that deliveries could change because of the situation with United's bankruptcy filing. ACA has already received 69 RJs from Bombardier and ordered 52 more for delivery through 2004. It said that it would take delivery of six aircraft scheduled for delivery through February and will continue to evaluate the situation and assess further deliveries based on its agreement with United and the availability of financing.
ACA is scheduled to receive one additional aircraft this month, three in January and two in February. The airline reported that financing commitments were already in place for these aircraft prior to United's announcement of bankruptcy and that the financing parties involved have indicated they are prepared to go forward subject to a continuing assessment of the situation.

Caribbean Sun Airlines received its Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification as a scheduled U.S. flag carrier on Dec. 18 and will begin service between the United States and the Caribbean islands early in the new year. Initial service will be from San Juan, Puerto Rico to St. Maarten, St. Kitts, Tortola and Antigua. U.S. destinations have not yet been selected, but should be announced "very shortly," a company spokeswoman said. The new airline will inaugurate service with a fleet of deHavilland Dash 8s. Caribbean Sun is a sister airline to Caribbean Star (C/R News, Oct. 7, 2002).

US Airways Express will introduce daily nonstop roundtrip service between Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Birmingham, Ala., using 50-seat Embraer-145 regional jets beginning Feb. 9, 2003. US Airways Express carriers Mesa Airlines and Midway Airlines will operate the new service. With the only nonstop service between these two cities, customers will be able to fly direct while trimming about one hour from their existing travel time," said B. Ben Baldanza, US Airways senior vice president of marketing and planning. "We are delighted to bring this new service to our Birmingham and Washington area customers." With the new schedule, US Airways Express will operate an all-regional jet fleet at Birmingham, offering daily nonstop service to Charlotte, N.C., Reagan National, Huntsville, Ala., Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

Bombardier has received final clearance for its CRJ900 regional jet with Joint Airworthiness Authority (JAA) recommendation for type validation/certification. The aircraft has already received type certification from Transport Canada and the Federal Aviation Administration. JAA does not issue certification, but rather recommends it to the JAA member states; which, in turn, virtually guarantees certification by the air worthiness authorities within those states. Mesa Air Group is scheduled to take delivery of the first CRJ900 during the first quarter of the this year for operation as American West Express. Mesa has ordered 25 of the aircraft while GECAS has firm orders for 10.

Delta Connection carrier Atlantic Southeast Airlines will add three daily non-stop flights between Atlanta and Roanoke, with one daily flight starting Jan. 31 with an ATR 72 and two daily flights starting Feb. 15 using Bombardier CRJ regional jets. ASA will also replace turboprop service between Atlanta and Charleston, W. Va., with two daily non-stop CRJ flights and replace turboprop service between Atlanta and Golden Triangle Regional Airport, Miss. with one daily CRJ flight. Delta Connection will also begin service this month between Boston, Mass. and Atlantic City, N.J. flown by Comair and between Atlantic City and Washington National Airport flown by Atlantic Coast Airlines.

ExpressJet and the Air Lines Pilots Association (ALPA) have filed jointly with the National Mediation Board for the assistance of a federal mediator in their ongoing contract negotiations. The airline and its pilots' union signed a bargaining protocol last March that provides procedures for negotiations and that states that the parties may jointly apply for mediation if no agreement was reached by the end of the year. The two parties said that filing for mediation was "a positive step" toward reaching an agreement "that is fair and equitable to both parties." The contract was up for renewal on Oct. 2, 2002.

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