Aircraft

Mesa returns Beech turboprops, reaches settlement with Big Sky

By Megan Kuhn

Mesa Air Group returned 14 of its 34 Beechcraft 1900D aircraft to Raytheon Aircraft Company and Raytheon Aircraft Credit Corporation on 16 May.

Ten aircraft had been flown by now defunct Big Sky Airlines and four had been flown by Gulfstream International.

The Phoenix-based regional airline operator also reached a settlement agreement last week with Big Sky parent MAIR Holdings over payments of the10 aircraft Big Sky leased from Mesa.

Mesa asserted that Big Sky defaulted on lease payments of roughly $4.8 million after Big Sky ceased operations on 8 March.

Big Sky’s parent disputed the Mesa default notice, and filed a complaint against Mesa in federal court, where the matter was resolved. Terms of the settlement include Mesa receiving $1.5 million and retaining Big Sky’s security deposits and special supplemental rent.

Source: flightglobal.com's sister premium news site Air Transport Intelligence news