Aircraft

Mesa Air Group has delayed the planned launch of a Hawaiian inter-island regional carrier due to fuel system problems in the Bombardier regional jets it plans to use for the service.

During an analyst conference call yesterday chairman and chief executive Jonathan Ornstein said the carrier would now launch early in the second quarter, a slight delay from its previous forecast of a first quarter launch. He attributed the delays to unspecified issues involving the aircraft’s flexible fuel bladders. No further details have been given.

Ornstein says the service will launch with four to six Bombardier regional jet aircraft. He previously told Flight International sister online news service Air Transport Intelligence that it will initially fly the 50-seater CRJ200s before transitioning to 86-seat CRJ900s.

Mesa’s Hawaii service is expected to offer fares around one-quarter below current fares available for inter-island service. Ornstein adds that the fares for the as-yet-unnamed carrier will increase over time.

GREGORY TWACHTMAN / WASHINGTON, DC