Regional Carrier Now Based In Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport

While there has been no official notification in the form of a news release, it appears that Pinnacle Airlines will emerge from bankruptcy as Endeavor Air after receiving financing and executives from Delta Air Lines.

Pinnacle recently relocated from Memphis, TN, to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport in Minnesota and became a subsidiary of Delta. It flies routes exclusively for Delta as Delta Connection. Employees of the airline are currently voting on a new logo design, and the Minnesota Post reports that the re-branding will be officially launched June 26th.

But the new logo and re-branding are unlikely show up as livery on the airline's airplanes, which will sport the Delta Connection brand. Insiders say that the changes are targeted more at the company's employees by the new executive team in an effort to boost morale after what was described as a "bruising" restructuring under chapter 11. The carrier lost contracts with both US Airways and United, and the employees had to make deep concessions in the bankruptcy process. Delta is reducing the regional airline's fleet, phasing out its 50-seat regional jets that the new management says do not make sense in the current economic environment.

A new executive team is also in place, with Ryan Gumm named as president of the company earlier this year. Gumm had been a pilot, and had held management roles at Delta Private Jets and Comair. Other executives put in place also had strong ties to Delta.

Gumm said in a recent memo to employees that the name Endeavour Air represents "innovation, excitement, and the adventure of a journey."

FMI: www.mesaba.com