SkyWest is expanding its CRJ-550 fleet with plans to add up to 40 more by 2026. Currently, the regional airline giant operates a handful of the premium-heavy 50-seat jets for Delta Connection and soon United Express.
In early October, United disclosed that it had inked an agreement with SkyWest for 11 CRJ-550s. The regional aircraft isn’t new to United’s network as GoJet operates 40.
GoJet and United rolled out the CRJ-550 in 2019, which is a modified CRJ-700 with just 50 seats along with a snack bar and additional luggage storage.
On Thursday, SkyWest announced that its “multi-year” agreement with United includes 40 CRJ-550s, 11 of which will be bought used. The other 29 will be converted from existing CRJ-700s within SkyWest’s fleet.
“This aircraft is an ideal replacement for single-class CRJ-200s,” said Wade Steel, SkyWest’s chief commercial officer, during a third-quarter earnings call.
The additional CRJ-550s will include aircraft that are in storage and actively flying, Steel shared.
The company has already acquired one CRJ-550 in the third quarter with plans to add more aircraft between 2024 and 2026. Four jets are expected to enter service by the end of 2024.
According to Cirium Fleet Analyzer, SkyWest has 104 CRJ-700s currently in service along with 33 in storage. The carrier also plans to operate 19 CRJ-550s under the Delta Connection banner; a handful are already flying from Delta’s Detroit, Minneapolis, and Salt Lake City hubs.
