New carrier Compass Airlines, a Chantilly, Virginia-based Northwest Airlink partner owned by Northwest Airlines and formed to operate 36 of its new 76-seat regional jets, has begun service. By the end of the year, Compass expects to operate 10 Embraer 175 aircraft in a two-class configuration, with 12 first-class seats and 64 seats in coach.
Compass is not the only regional carrier interested in dual-class cabins. Northwest's Mesaba subsidiary is taking delivery of dual-class Bombardier CRJ900s, also with 12 first-class seats. United subsidiaries now fly more than 100 regional jets with first-class seating, and Delta affiliates plan to fly 77 dual-class regional jets by the end of next year.
Northwest cuts flights to free up pilots
Northwest Airlines will begin hiring new pilots if its recall of furloughed flight crews doesn't return enough pilots to the cockpit. The airline cut one Detroit-Frankfurt flight from its schedule and reduced its domestic mainline capacity by 3 percent to increase its reserve of pilot flying hours, following a number of flight cancellations during June. Thunderstorms and pilot absenteeism contributed to the problem, the airline said.
Career Pilot at AOPA Expo
Attending AOPA Expo in Hartford, Connecticut? Wayne Phillips, AOPA Flight Training's careers columnist, will talk about the current job market Saturday, October 6, from 12:30-1:30 p.m. in Room 13 of the Connecticut Convention Center. For details, see AOPA Online.
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