Saabs to ATL
 

With some of Mesabas Saabs going to ATL, will that mean less service up north or maybe switch over to CRJs?

I'm curious, what's your source? Other than that, I'm suprised that the Saabs would be heading to more-temperate climates, as these seem to be good winter-weather birds and have served the north-central states well over the years.

Perhaps a well-deserved, "retirement" to warmer weather? ;) Nevertheless, not sure what DL+NW will or can replace them with at the smaller airfields they usually serve. Let's hope that this doesn't spell the end of Airlink/Connection scheduled service to small stations like ABR, etc.

Delta plans to open Saab 340 base at Atlanta hub

I am not too sure but I think this may affect MEM far more than any other NW hub.

Ahhh, maybe this will mean HHH (Hilton Head) service can make a return after the merger??

EDIT: Oops, just read the article linked above by flyingcat, which specifically states providing a turboprop aircraft for service to Hilton Head.

I don't see why they are moving the Saabs if there is need for the service out of the NW hubs. DL should be picking up some of the Q200s from QX. They fly faster and offer more seats than the Saabs, which when you are flying to Hilton Head it would make sense to have the extra 5 seats.

Why should they add another type? Post-merger DL is already going to be the most ungodly amalgamation of types & regional airlines imaginable.

DL/NW is going to shuffle the aircraft around to best match their loads and needs. That's a given, and they'd be really dumb not to.

Whether some of us are fond of SkyPiles or not, all indications are that this merger is going to work. They are not following the U.S. Airways model. :cool:

The 752s alone give me a headache. :eek:

I think MEM and CVG both are going to take a lot of hits. The only chance MEM has is overflow for ATL, if it has more delay issues.

Mike: those Q200s are really nice. Muchos better than the ATR72s (thank God those are being retired). The Saabs aren't being produced anymore, and if you want to expand short-haul or even medium-haul service you want to do it with the Q200s.

Looks like I will be on Saab's in the future from MCN-ATL. This has been anything from CRJ-700,CRJ-200, ATR-72s. The Saab's might make it easier to have more than two filghts a day.

I would be interested to see where the ATR's are put.

Let's just clear a few things up.

- This is not an official announcement, but merely speculation. I believe however it is VERY possible for this to happen. As said, many of the "regional" routes between MEM and ATL would likely be consolidated in some form of MEM re-evaluation thus freeing up saabs as their routes get upgaged.

- The Horizon dash 8 -200s are not Q200s, but the old 200s.

- ASA is retiring their ATRs and Skywest is retiring their Brasilias, leaving Mesaba the only turboprop operator, with the saab. The saab leases were renegotiated to 5 years in Ch11, which means the leases will start to expire in about 2012.

- Lots of Q400 speculation at Mesaba as saab and CRJ200 replacement.

Wouldn't that be introducing another airplane type? or would it make more sense to standardize on something like the 900's?

Bob H

Standardization is good, but why on a 900? The Q400 is more fuel efficient and carries 70+ passengers. Seems if an airline is concerned about fuel costs they would be looking at operating cost first.

IMO, if the Q400 was ever introduced, it would be to replace the CRJ200 and to upgage some saab routes. The Q400 i stoo big for a direct saab replacement, but a mix of Qs could do the trick, or even a mix of the ATR family. Yes, it would be introducing a new type, but we would eventually see the saab go away. If the fleet size is large enough, the economies of scale would justify adding a fleet type.

You also have to staff up mechanics & pilots for the new type, train them, and establish your maintenance and operating procedures. Doing that for a small number of a new type drives up costs. At an airline like NW, each type has it's own chief pilot, training pilot, simulators, etc. It's not a minor effort.

Now the Q400 is an appealing option (and Alaska's free beer in coach made it even more appealing :) ).