Originally Posted by
Pigeye01
Yes, but not before they returned the 717s and put hundreds of YX employees on unemployment. It's still a net loss...
Before someone chimes in with "The 717s were on the way out by the time RAH came to MKE," ask Bedford how much he paid Boeing to break the leases on the last six. Bedford's plan backfired. His bid on F9 was an attempt to drive up the airline's price, hoping WN would pay for the company, helping to repay RAH's financing of F9. He's all smiles, but Bedford is in for challenges that I don't think he has the resources to overcome. An unfavorable (for him) arbitration ruling, combined with WN expansion and UA/FL territorial defense are uncertainties that could cost Bedford A LOT.
Uhh Republic would have gotten their loan back no matter the price WN paid. Republic was in it to win it, otherwise they would have just let WN take it. They aren't in a position to just take back all of the YX crews until they can get all of their labor issues figured out. Then they have to be trained to fly the aircraft in the fleet. If it was something that could happen overnight I'm sure Bedford would love to get it taken care of and employ everyone, but that isn't how the world works.