Mesa Air Group is spending big... and has placed a firm order for a total of 20 Bombardier CRJ700 and CRJ900 regional jets. The mix of models will be determined at a later date. The order is valued at an estimated $637 million U.S. ($837 million Cdn.) and represents the conversion of 20 of the 40 options that Mesa holds on the Bombardier CRJ700 and CRJ900 aircraft. Mesa Air Group currently operates 69 Bombardier CRJ aircraft including 43 CRJ200, 15 CRJ700 and 11 CRJ900 aircraft. In addition a further 11 CRJ200 from Midway Airlines will soon join its fleet. When the delivery of this recent order is complete Mesa Air Group will operate some 114 Bombardier CRJ aircraft and will have options on another 20 regional jets.

Calls for Immediate Action To Deal With Congestion

On Tuesday, U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta announced plans for a new, next generation air transportation system with expanded capacity to relieve congestion, prevent gridlock and secure America’s place as global leader in aviation’s second century. In a speech before the Aero Club of Washington, D.C., the Secretary warned that recent delays at Chicago’s O’Hare airport marked the return of increased passenger demand for air travel and potential gridlock in the skies. Mineta said that the FAA has set in motion several airspace modernization plans to add capacity and improve efficiency, including seven new air traffic control towers; five new terminal air traffic control fac

Smuggled Explosives Seen As Main Threat

A federal commission investigating the tragic events of September 11, 2001 claims the FAA failed to adequately prepare for hijacking prevention and focused too much on a perceived threat from explosives smuggled aboard planes The preliminary report by the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States said that in a presentation to airline and airport officials in early 2001, the FAA discounted the threat of a suicide hijacking because there was "no indication that any group is currently thinking in that direction." In July 2001, the FAA issued a warning to air carriers but did not mention suicide hijackings. Instead, it focused on the possibility that some terrorist groups might conceal explosive devices