SkyWest Airlines

For the Australian airline called Skywest prior to May 2013, see Virgin Australia Regional Airlines.
SkyWest Airlines
IATA ICAO Callsign
OO[1] SKW SKYWEST
Founded 1972
Hubs

As American Eagle:

As Alaska Airlines:

As Delta Connection:

As United Express:

Frequent-flyer program AAdvantage
(American Eagle)
Mileage Plan
(Alaska Airlines)
SkyMiles
(Delta Connection)
MileagePlus
(United Express)
Alliance SkyTeam (Delta Connection)
Star Alliance (United Express)
Oneworld (American Eagle)
Fleet size 348[2]
Destinations 205[3]
Parent company SkyWest, Inc.
Headquarters St. George, Utah, USA[4]
Key people Jerry Atkin (Chairman), Chip Childs (CEO), Mike Thompson (President and COO)
Website http://www.skywest.com

SkyWest Airlines is a North American airline owned by SkyWest, Inc. and headquartered in St. George, Utah, U.S.. Financially speaking[5] and according to the Airlines for America definitions,[6] SkyWest is a North American major airline. SkyWest however, operates on a regional airline level and is a member of the Regional Airline Association.[7][8] SkyWest Airlines flies to 205 cities, in 42 states; Washington, D.C.; six Canadian provinces and 11 cities in Mexico and the Bahamas.[9] The airline serves as a feeder airline, operating under contract with various major carriers. It flies as SkyWest Airlines in a partnership with Alaska Airlines, as United Express on behalf of United Airlines, as American Eagle on behalf of American Airlines, and as Delta Connection on behalf of Delta Air Lines.[10][11]

As of January 2016, SkyWest Airlines employed 11,322 people throughout North America. The airline averages 1,661 departures a day, with 906 operating as United Express, 592 operating as Delta Connection, 99 operating as American Eagle and 64 operating as Alaska Airlines. In total, SkyWest carried 27.9 million passengers in 2014.[10] The current Chairman of SkyWest, Inc. is Jerry Atkin, with Russel "Chip" Childs as CEO and Michael Thompson as President and Chief Operating Officer of SkyWest Airlines.[12][13]

History

SkyWest Airlines headquarters in St. George, Utah
Embraer EMB 120 Brasilia in SkyWest livery

Frustrated by the limited extent of existing air service, Ralph Atkin, a St. George, Utah, lawyer, purchased Dixie Airlines to shuttle businessmen to Salt Lake City in 1972.[14] After early struggles, SkyWest began steady expansion across the western U.S.. It became the eleventh largest regional carrier in 1984 when it acquired Sun Aire Lines of Palm Springs, California, and had its initial public offering in 1986.[15]

In 1985, SkyWest began codesharing as Western Express, a feeder service for Western Airlines at its Salt Lake City hub and other mainline Western destinations utilizing Embraer EMB-120 Brasilia and Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner turboprop aircraft.[16] Following the acquisition and merger of Western by Delta Air Lines in 1986, SkyWest then became a Delta Connection air carrier with code share service being flown on behalf of Delta to destinations in Arizona, California, Colorado, Montana, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming.[17][18] In 1995, SkyWest began operating flights for Continental Airlines out of LAX. The relationship was discontinued two years later when SkyWest began flying for United Airlines. SkyWest's United Express flights out of SFO, LAX and DEN became its largest operation by the late 1990s. A partnership with Continental was revived in 2003 out of George Bush Intercontinental Airport, but was discontinued in June 2005. On August 15, 2005, Delta sold Atlantic Southeast Airlines to the newly incorporated SkyWest, Inc. for $425 million in cash.[19] The acquisition was completed on September 8, 2005.[20]

On August 4, 2010, SkyWest, Inc. announced that it planned to acquire ExpressJet Airlines and merge it with SkyWest subsidiary Atlantic Southeast Airlines in a deal reported to have a value of $133 million. The purchase aligned the largest commuter operations of United Airlines and Continental Airlines, who were in a merger process, and was approved on September 13, 2010, by the Federal Trade Commission.[21]

In May 2011, SkyWest replaced six Horizon Air flights on the West Coast being operated for Alaska Airlines. The flights were based out of Seattle and Portland, and fly to several California cities including Fresno, Burbank, Santa Barbara and Ontario. Alaska Airlines has similar agreements with PenAir for Alaskan flights and Horizon Air for flights in the lower 48.[22]

On September 6, 2011, AirTran Airways ended its codesharing and partnership with SkyWest.[23] Shortly after, SkyWest began a codesharing agreement with US Airways to operate CRJ200 aircraft from US Airways' hub in Phoenix, Arizona.[24]

On November 15, 2012, SkyWest began a capacity purchase agreement with American Airlines for 12 CRJ200 aircraft from American's hub in Los Angeles, California.[25]

Destinations

An Alaska SkyWest CRJ-700 operated by SkyWest at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport

SkyWest flies to 205 destinations throughout North America including Denver International Airport, Salt Lake City International Airport, San Francisco International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, Chicago O'Hare International Airport, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and Portland International Airport.[26]

Fleet

Current and future jet fleet

As of December 2015, the SkyWest fleet consists of the following regional jet aircraft either in current operation or on order for future delivery:[27]

Type Active Orders Options Passengers Operated For Notes
F Y+ Y Total
Bombardier CRJ100 4 50 50 Delta Connection
2 United Express
1 SkyWest Airlines
Bombardier CRJ200 14 50 50 American Eagle
63 Delta Connection
67 United Express
17 SkyWest Airlines
Bombardier CRJ700 9 70 70 Alaska Airlines [28]
19 9 8 48 65 Delta Connection
70 6 16 48 70 United Express
Bombardier CRJ900 36 12 12 52 76 Delta Connection 3 aircraft leased from Endeavor Air[29]
Embraer E-175 7 8 12 64 76 Alaska Airlines
0 19 12 64 76 Delta Connection Deliveries Aug 2016 - Summer 2017
40 25 12 16 48 76 United Express Deliveries thru 2017
1 100 TBA TBA
Embraer E175-E2 100 100 TBA TBA Enter service in 2020
Mitsubishi MRJ90 100 100 TBA TBA Enter service in 2017
Total 349 253 300

SkyWest is also currently operating Embraer EMB-120 Brasilia turboprop aircraft; however, this type is now progressively being retired from the fleet with the last aircraft scheduled to leave service during the summer of 2015. The airline also previously operated Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner turboprops (Metro II and Metro III models).[17] In 1984, SkyWest was operating the largest Metro propjet fleet in the world with 26 aircraft and by 1991 the Metro fleet had grown to 35 aircraft with 15 Brasilia propjets being operated as well.[17] By 1994, the first jet, a Canadair CRJ-100, was added to the fleet and by 1996 all of the Metro propjets had been retired as they were progressively replaced with Brasilia aircraft.[17]

According to the airline's website, at its inception SkyWest was operating all flights in the early 1970s with small propeller driven, piston engine aircraft including:[17]

SkyWest will become an all-jet airline once the final Embraer EMB-120 Brasilia aircraft is retired.

Future

In July 2012, SkyWest, Inc, agreed to purchase 100 Mitsubishi MRJ90. The aircraft are scheduled to begin service in 2017.[30] In December 2012, SkyWest and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries confirmed a deal reached in July 2012 at the Farnborough Airshow for 100 MRJ90 aircraft, with an additional 100 options. Deliveries of the aircraft to SkyWest are scheduled to start in 2017. Due to Mitsubishi Aircraft development delays on the MRJ90 though, any optioned plane would not be delivered until after 2021.[31][32]

In May 2013, SkyWest, Inc. came to an agreement with Embraer to purchase 100 E-175 Regional Jets, with an option for up to 100 more. Deliveries are slated to begin in April 2014. The first 40 aircraft will be flown by SkyWest Airlines, under a 12-year capacity purchase agreement with United Airlines, in a 76-seat, dual class configuration.[33] The following month, SkyWest, Inc. came to an agreement with Embraer to purchase 100 Embraer E175-E2 Regional Jets, with an option for up to 100 more. SkyWest Airlines will be the launch customer for these second generation E-Jets, with deliveries slated to begin in 2020.[34] In 2015 the airline signed an order for an additional 18 Embraer 175 aircraft with the first to be delivered in 2016 to fly under the United Express name.[35]

SkyWest is to phase out its Embraer EMB 120 aircraft by summer 2015 to reduce costs and thereby transition to an all-jet fleet.[36]

Crew Bases

Pilots and Flight Attendants are based in the following cities:

SkyWest Airlines partnerships

SkyWest Airlines has code sharing agreements with Delta, United, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, and US Airways. These code sharing agreements allow SkyWest Airlines to operate as United Express, Delta Connection, US Airways Express, American Eagle, and Alaska Airlines. Delta, United, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, and US Airways provide reservations, ticket sales, ground support services, and gate access while SkyWest Airlines handles the flight operations. Under all of SkyWest agreements, passengers are allowed to participate in the other airlines’ frequent flyer program.

Delta Air Lines

On April 1, 1987, SkyWest and Delta Air Lines entered a code sharing agreement with SkyWest operating as the Delta Connection. SkyWest had previously operated a code sharing agreement with Western Airlines as Western Express since 1985. Western Airlines was merged into Delta Airlines on April 1, 1987. As of December 31, 2012, SkyWest Airlines operated 21 CRJ900s,13 CRJ700s, and 52 CRJ200s for Delta Connection. SkyWest Airlines operates these aircraft to provide feeder service between Delta hubs and other destinations chosen by Delta. As of December 31, 2012, SkyWest Airlines was operating approximately 519 Delta Connection flights per day.

Under the SkyWest - Delta Connection agreement, SkyWest Airlines receives from Delta reimbursement for all of the direct costs related to the flight; including fuel, ground handling, and maintenance, and aircraft ownership cost. SkyWest also receives a fixed payment for each completed flight hour.

The SkyWest - Delta Connection agreement ends on September 8, 2020, unless Delta elects to use its option to extend the agreement for up to four five-year terms. The agreement can also be terminated with 30 days’ notice if SkyWest fails to meet the agreed upon obligations. These obligations include if SkyWest fails to conduct its flight operations and maintenance of its aircraft under the terms of the agreement or in compliance with government regulations. The contract can be terminated if SkyWest Airlines fails to maintain performance and safety requirements or if either airline files for bankruptcy or reorganization. The contract can also be terminated if SkyWest Airlines fails to maintain a competitive rate among other regional airlines.

SkyWest initially flew as a Delta Connection air carrier in the western U.S. beginning in 1986 operating Embraer EMB-120 Brasilia and Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner turboprops with service to destinations in Arizona, California, Colorado, Montana, Utah and Wyoming via a code sharing agreement with Delta.[18][37]

United Airlines

On July 31, 2003, SkyWest and United Express entered into a code sharing agreement. As of December 31, 2010, SkyWest Airlines operated 70 CRJ700s, 83 CRJ200s, and 44 Embraer 120 turboprops under the SkyWest United agreement. The airline is currently in the midst of retiring all of its Brasilia propjet aircraft. SkyWest flights are used provide feeder service between United hubs and smaller destinations.

Under the agreement, United retains all air fares, cargo rates, mail charges and other revenues associated with each flight. SkyWest then receives from United a fixed fee for each flight hour, departure, passenger, and a fixed-fee for overhead and aircraft costs. [4] SkyWest also receives one time startup cost for each aircraft delivered. The code-sharing agreement also provides certain incentives based upon SkyWest performance. These incentives include on-time arrival performance and completion percentage rates. Direct operating costs are also reimbursed by United. These cost include fuel, aircraft ownership, and maintenance costs.

The SkyWest United agreement ends on December 31, 2015. United has the option of extending the agreement for an additional five years. However, the agreement is subject to early termination if SkyWest or United fails to fulfill certain obligations agreed to under the code sharing agreement. The agreement will be terminated if SkyWest operations fall below certain performance levels for a period of three consecutive months. The agreement will also be cancelled if either airline files for bankruptcy or for reorganization. The agreement is also subject to early termination if SkyWest operates any aircraft that is supposed to be operated exclusively for United flights for any other purpose.

Alaska Airlines

On February 25, 2011, SkyWest Airlines entered an agreement with Alaska Airlines. The SkyWest Alaska Airlines agreement means that SkyWest operates and maintains its aircraft, while Alaska Airlines is responsible for scheduling, pricing and marketing the flights. As of 2015, SkyWest operates eight Bombardier CRJ-700s for Alaska Airlines. On November 25, 2014, Alaska Airlines announced SkyWest will operate seven two-class Embraer E-175 aircraft for Alaska Airlines from July 2015.[38] On June 1, 2015, Alaska Airlines announced that it would exercise its eight options on E-175s to replace the eight CRJ-700s SkyWest Airlines operates for a total of 15 E-175s.[39]

SkyWest Airlines currently flies to 18 destinations throughout the United States and Canada for Alaska Airlines. Those cities include Boise, Bozeman, Burbank, Colorado Springs, Edmonton, Fresno, Las Vegas, Milwaukee, Oklahoma City, Omaha, Ontario (CA), Salt Lake City, Santa Barbara, San Diego, San Jose (CA), St. Louis, Steamboat Springs/Hayden and Tucson.

Alaska Airlines passengers flying on SkyWest flights qualify for Alaska Airlines’ MileagePlan frequent flier program.

American Airlines

On September 12, 2012, SkyWest Airlines and American Airlines entered agreement. The agreement is a four-year agreement that allows SkyWest to handle some of its regional flying as a way to save money while American is in bankruptcy protection. SkyWest will fly 23 Bombardier CRJ200s under the American Eagle designation.

US Airways

On December 16, 2011, SkyWest Airlines signed a three-year agreement with US Airways. The agreement calls for SkyWest to operate 14 CRJ200 regional jet aircraft as US Airways Express. SkyWest will operate all of these flights out of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport as a feeder operation for the airport. SkyWest also operates 4 CRJ900 regional jet aircraft on behalf of US Airways Express out of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport to various destinations.

Accidents and incidents

SkyWest Airlines has never been cited or found at fault in a fatal accident or incident. Incidents include:

Awards and recognition

References

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