Republic C-SeriesAs you have probably found out by now, Republic has announced a massive order to purchase 40 CS300 aircraft (formerly know as the C-130, good idea to change the name!) plus 40 more options.

You know the details, if not head on over to aviation-buzz who has a pretty good overview.

As I have said before, Republic and the C-Series are both highly regarded by me. Republic because, whether you like them or not, they are ballsy. They don’t stick to the status quo, and they make things happen. The big question is how they manage the Frontier and Midwest acquisition into the future, time will tell. A full post on Republic will be coming in the future.

And I think the C-Series is an amazing aircraft (if it can be pulled off). One: geared turbo-fan engine, two: bigger windows and overhead bins, three: engines under the wings, four: the sweet spot of range and passengers as airlines are downsizing, and five: perfect for an airline concept I am working on. But more on my thoughts there later. Today is about the order.

Republic was in the best position out of anyone in the U.S. market to pull this off. No regional airline could do it because of scope clauses.

Delta is a bit preoccupied at the moment and while they could use the aircraft, there is a lot left from the merger which needs to be shaken out. American could use it, but they have a huge amount of 737s rolling in which they need to pay for. Continental could use it, but they are pretty conservative and I couldn’t see them being the launch customer for a new aircraft type with a new engine. United could use it, and potentially might choose it now that they have moved past their wide body choice (yikes!) and are now looking at narrow bodies. But it will take them another year or so at least to make that announcement and it will probably be equal numbers of 737s, A320s and maybe some C-Series thrown in for fun. US Airways could use it, but it seems as if they are standardizing on Airbus and Embraer.

JetBlue wouldn’t order them because a third fleet type is not in their model. And even though people are throwing out Southwest, I just don’t see it happening. Boeing is going to do whatever it takes to keep one of their biggest customers and if Southwest does it, they are going to do it big, don’t know if they are ready to make that sort of commitment. It would be a good aircraft for them minus the whole fleet commonality thing. Allegiant might have a fleet of C-Series… in 2040.

The only other airline who was in a good position to do this sort of deal is AirTran, which already has a split fleet, has an aircraft which this would replace, and flies to smaller destinations. It is very reasonable that AirTran will be the second American customer to order the C-Series.

But other than that, it was going to be Republic which finds and aircraft which will work well for Midwest (which will become Frontier, mark my words) and for Frontier which will give them a competitive advantage over United and Southwest. Plus, they were probably sold at cost to Republic to get the ball rolling. Which provides Republic with an even greater competitive advantage because they were able to take a risk on a new plane.

One last thing, let’s hope the Republic livery is there only because they don’t want to announce their plans to convert the Midwest brand into Frontier yet. (But they did say there would be STRETCH seats?) It is a nice livery I’ll give them that. But seriously Republic, you have to go with the Frontier brand.

I think that risk will pay off. But only time will tell if the new aircraft and new engine will work as advertised.

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