Using a Bombardier CRJ-200, Compass Airlines launched revenue service last week. Flight 2002 departed Dulles International Airport (IAD) at 6:37 a.m. with 43 passengers and a crew of three, arriving at Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport (MSP) two minutes early at 8:13 a.m.
“Today’s launch of scheduled air service is a very proud day for all employees of Compass Airlines,” said John Bendoraitis, president of the newest Northwest Airlink, who said Compass will not only serve the Minneapolis hub but the Detroit and Memphis hubs as well. “For more than a year, the entire Compass team diligently prepared for this day. We welcome customers aboard Compass Airlines and look forward to continuing to expand our operations in the near future.”
Compass will initially operate a 50-seat CRJ-200 regional jet aircraft with twice-daily round trip service between Washington and Minneapolis/St. Paul. However, it will launch Embraer (ERJ) 175 service during the third quarter, the first of 36 in a 76-seat, duel class configuration with 12 first class seats and 64 in coach. The 175 range is 1,700 miles. Compass plans to operate a fleet of 10 EMB-175 aircraft by the end of 2007, and 36 aircraft by the end of 2008.
Based in Chantilly, Va., Compass Airlines is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Northwest Airlines Corporation (NWACQ). Its CRJ200 will ultimately migrate to its sister company, Mesaba Airlines.
The company has a pilot corps of 10 to fly the CRJ200s but expects to hire 350 pilots to operate the ERJs. Regionals have been noting the tight pilot market in their quarterly conference calls. Press reports indicate Compass pilots will earn $23.18 per hour or $20,862 for 900 hours of annual flying. The company is focusing first on furloughed Northwest pilots who would start as second-year captains, earning $53,049 for 850 hours. Compass’s web site includes a promise that the 110 pilots expected to be hired this year will be captains in under a year.