Mesa Air Group Inc. [Nasdaq: MESA] and SkyWest Inc. [Nasdaq: SKYW] last week said they were negotiating with Bombardier [Toronto: BBDb.TO] on firm orders for 55 regional jets (RJs) that would be worth up to $1.5 billion at list prices.

The carriers need the RJs to provide new or expanded feeder service for long-term agreements with bankrupt United Airlines [OTC BB: UALAQ.OB]. If completed, the purchases would bolster Bombardier, which saw the price of its stock drop following Atlantic Coast Airlines' [Nasdaq: ACAI] decision not to exercise an option for 34 CRJ-200s (CRAN, Aug. 4).

Mesa is seeking to buy up to 25 regional jets to fulfill its 10-year United Express deal (CRAN, July 14), while SkyWest confirmed that it is close to completing a deal to buy 30 Bombardier 70-seat RJs for its own United Express service.

Mesa expects to get help from the Canadian government's Canada Account to finance its latest order from Bombardier (CRAN, Aug. 4).

>>Contacts: Jonathan Ornstein, Mesa, 602-685-4001; Michael Kraupp, Sky West, 435-634-3000; Bert Cruickshank, Bombardier, 416-375-3546; Rick DeLisi, ACA, 703-650- 6550.