SkyWest Airlines

SkyWest has agreed to purchase 19 Embraer E175s, which will fly for United Airlines under a capacity purchase agreement.

Rapid hiring of US pilots is hurting regionals and raises safety questions.

The acute shortage of pilots, especially captains, continues to be a top challenge for U.S. commuter airlines.

FAA’s notice comes a little over a year after SkyWest Charter (SWC) applied for commuter air carrier authorization.

U.S. regional operator SkyWest continues to wait on regulatory approval for commuter authority as part of its upstart charter operation.

SkyWest says it is making progress on slowing captain attrition, and projects adding a substantial number of block hours over the next two years.

As forecasts project a continuing pilot shortage, some U.S. airlines are beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel.

US regional carrier SkyWest Airlines will begin flying the its Embraer E175 jets for Alaska Airlines on July 1, 2015 with the start of new services from Seattle to both Milwaukee and Oklahoma City, and between Portland, Oregon and St Louis.

The airline revealed in November 2014 that it would end more than 20 years of operation with the type by the middle of this year. The retirement is, in part, in response to increased costs and additional challenges associated with new FAR117 flight and duty rules, implemented in January 2014.

The US carrier confirms SkyWest has purchased seven E175s from the Brazilian manufacturer to fly on its behalf under a capacity purchase agreement (CPA). The first three aircraft will arrive in the summer of 2015 and will be used to introduce daily flights from Seattle to Milwaukee and Oklahoma City and from Portland to St Louis from July 1, 2015.

United will initially introduce the aircraft on its route between Chicago O’Hare and Ronald Reagan Washington National from May 17, 2014 before launching the aircraft on its Chicago O’Hare – Boston Logan International link two days later on May 19, 2014.

US major United Airlines has confirmed that it will debut its new Embraer E175 aircraft on routes from Chicago O’Hare from May this year. The aircraft