Atlanta-based ExpressJet Airlines, once a major Delta Connection carrier, is being sold to a United joint venture. The move further cements the end of the carrier’s time as a significant player in Atlanta aviation as a partner of Delta. Delta announced last year that it would end its contract with ExpressJet in late 2018. ExpressJet operated its last Delta Connection flight Nov. 26. Today, ExpressJet operates flights for United as United Express and for American Airlines as American Eagle. Delta is shifting more business to Endeavor Air, a Delta Connection carrier based in Minneapolis that is also a wholly-owned subsidiary of Delta. United joint venture ManaAir is paying $70m in cash to ExpressJet parent company SkyWest for most of ExpressJet’s assets, and is assuming the liabilities of ExpressJet. The deal is expected to close in early 2019, pending closing conditions. The assets that ManaAir doesn’t buy will be used or liquidated by SkyWest. SkyWest CEO Chip Childs said in a written statement that the deal “provides further clarity and focus for the future,” adding that SkyWest looks forward to “continuing to strengthen our partnership with United.” It’s yet to be seen when and where ExpressJet’s headquarters will move.<br/>
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South African Airways said Tuesday that it had signed a deal with Emirates [EMIRA.UL] to expand an existing codeshare agreement, in a rare bright spot for the cash-strapped airline. The state-owned carrier, which has not made a profit since 2011 and survives on government handouts, said the agreement would see the two airlines leverage each other’s route networks, cargo services and flight schedules to boost passenger flows. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has been at pains to stabilize ailing firms like SAA, but the extent of their financial difficulties has meant slow progress. SAA, which hopes to turn a profit by 2021 by cutting jobs and routes, expects to make another large loss this financial year, despite a recent government cash injection of 5b rand ($350m). “The expansion of our commercial relationship will further strengthen key focus areas of the implementation of our turnaround plan,” SAA CE Vuyani Jarana said.<br/>