US regional airline group SkyWest Inc is beginning to make plans to place a firm order for several hundred regional jets as it takes delivery of its last four aircraft on firm order this year.
The airline group, which acquired ExpressJet Airlines last year, now has a fleet of 725 aircraft consisting of varied models of Bombardier and Embraer regional jets, many of which will be retired over the next several years as their leases end or the aircraft come to major checks which would be uneconomical to undertake on them.
The airline is examining its current and future agreements with major U.S. carriers and is undertaking an examination of its future growth options.
The airline group owns SkyWest Airlines, Atlantic Southeast Airlines (ASA), and ExpressJet Airlines and is in talks with four manufacturers about a firm order for hundreds of replacement regional jets.
