SkyWest returning 30 regional jets to service for summer block-hour surge

Regional carrier SkyWest Airlines expects to approach “2019 levels” of block-hour flying this year as major US airlines boost their feeder networks. SkyWest anticipates flying about 12% more block hours this year than last, “driven primarily by improving fleet availability and ongoing strong demand for our production”, CE Chip Childs said during the company’s year-end earnings call. Company executives say that block hours will surge during upcoming summer months as it returns to service about 30 dual-class MHIRJ CRJ-family aircraft to its massive, 500-strong fleet of regional jets. SkyWest, the largest regional carrier in the USA – which contracts with all three major US network carriers as well as Alaska Airlines – last year grew its block hours by a similar figure over 2023. American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines have all forecast a return to full utilisation of their regional fleets, which have been slow to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic due to a years-long pilot shortage. <br/>