SkyWest has obtained 29 used CRJ-900 airframes from an unnamed regional carrier. The deal was announced during the airline’s first-quarter earnings call on Thursday.
Wade Steele, SkyWest’s chief commercial officer, emphasized the importance of this acquisition as a move to hedge against supply chain woes: “We expect to utilize many of these airframes for parts to mitigate any supply chain challenges we may face over the next few years.”
The airline intends to activate six of these airframes for regular operation, while the remaining units will serve as a reserve for parts. These aircraft were acquired for $28 million, he shared.
As of March 31, Steel said that deals were closed for three of these aircraft. According to Cirium Fleet Analyzer data, these aircraft previously belonged to Mesa Airlines, which moved to an all-Embraer fleet in February.
