SkyWest Airlines 2006 Annual Report Download - page 32

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26
SkyWest Airlines has firm orders to acquire eight additional new CRJ900s. In addition, SkyWest
Airlines andASA collectively intend to acquire 11 additional CRJ200s and sublease 12 CRJ700s from
Delta commencing during the year ending December 31, 2007. SkyWest and ASA do not presently have
orders for additional aircraft other than these Bombardier Regional Jets. Gross committed expenditures
for these 31 aircraft and related equipment,including estimated amountsfor contractual price escalations
will be approximately $363.5 million through April 2007. We presently are receiving these aircraft on an
incremental schedule, andanticipate that delivery datesfor theseaircraftcould continue through
approximately August 2007; however, actual delivery dates remain subject to final determination based on
various factors. SkyWest Airlines and ASA have also obtained combined options for another 38
Bombardier Regional Jets that can be delivered in either 70 or 90-seat configurations.
Thefollowing table outlines the number of Bombardier Regional Jets that SkyWest Airlines andASA
are scheduled to receive during each of the periodssetforth below and the expected size and composition
of ourcombinedfleet following the receipt of these aircraft.
During the fiscalyear
ending December 31,
2007 2008 2009 2010
A
dditionalaircraft deliveries
Additional CRJ200s...................................... 11 000
Additional CRJ700s...................................... 12 000
Additional CRJ900s...................................... 8000
Expected fleet size
TotalBombardier Regional Jets ............................ 367367 367 367
TotalBrasilia Turboprops ................................. 59 58 56 46
TotalATR-72 Turboprops................................. 12 000
Total Combined Fleet..................................... 438425 423 413
BombardierRegionalJets
TheBombardierRegional Jets are among the quietest commercial jets currently available and offer
many of theamenities of larger commercial jet aircraft, including flightattendant service, as well as a
stand-up cabin, overheadand underseatstorage, lavatories and in-flight snackand beverage service. The
speedofBombardier Regional Jets is comparable to larger aircraft operated by themajor airlines, and
they have a rangeof approximately 1,600 miles;however, because of their smallersize and efficient design,
theper-flight cost of operating a BombardierRegional Jet is generally less than that of a 120-seator larger
jet aircraft.
BrasiliaTurboprops
TheBrasilia turboprops are 30-seat,pressurized aircraft designedtooperate more economically over
short-haul routesthan larger jet aircraft. These factors make it economically feasible forSkyWest Airlines
to providehigh frequency service in markets with relativelylow volumes of passenger traffic. Passenger
comfortfeatures of theBrasilia turboprops include stand-up headroom, a lavatory, overhead baggage
compartments and flight attendant service. We expect that Deltaand United will want us to continue to
operate Brasilia turboprops in markets wherepassenger load and other factors make the operation of a
Bombardier Regional Jet impractical. As of December 31, 2006, SkyWest Airlines operated 62 Brasilia
turboprops out of Los Angeles, San Francisco, Salt Lake City, Seattle/Tacomaand Portland. SkyWest
Airlines’ Brasilia turbopropsare generally used in its California markets, which are characterized by high
frequency service on shorter stagelengths.