Sept. 14--An agreement signed this week by American Airlines and Utah-based SkyWest Airlines to outsource a part of American Eagle regional jet service is not expected to have any impact on Fort Smith's commercial air service.
American Airlines and its regional jet service, American Eagle, are subsidiaries of Fort Worth-based AMR Corp., which filed for bankruptcy protection last year. The agreement is aimed at helping American cut costs while it's under bankruptcy protection.
The four-year agreement provides for SkyWest to do some of American's regional flying, including service to and from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, the destination of four daily flights from Fort Smith Regional Airport.
John Parker, Fort Smith airport director, said he discussed the agreement with airline representatives Thursday and they assured him the contract would not impact local service in any way.
The Associated Press reported the agreement will involve operation of 23 regional jets which SkyWest will fly under the American Eagle banner, most of them out of D-FW and Los Angeles International Airport. The changeover is expected to begin Nov. 15, with the full fleet transferred by spring.
Parker said it is not uncommon for major carriers to contract with other airlines to carry passengers under the name of the major airline. Skywest also operates United Express, Delta Connection and US Airways Express flights under those airlines' banners.
The AP said the changes were made possible last week, when a federal bankruptcy judge threw out the union contract of American Airlines pilots. That contract limited AMR's ability to hire other carriers for regional flying, which most other major airlines have already done.
Copyright 2012 - Times Record, Fort Smith, Ark.
