Aircraft
SkyWest To Shed Brasilias, Reaches New Terms with United
Plans to become all-jet carrier by next summer
Plans call for SkyWest's last Embraer Brasilia to exit the fleet by next summer. (Photo: Flickr: Creative Commons (BY-SA) by redlegsfan21)
Plans call for SkyWest's last Embraer Brasilia to exit the fleet by next summer. (Photo: Flickr: Creative Commons (BY-SA) by redlegsfan21)

St. George, Utah-based SkyWest Airlines will finally retire its fleet of Embraer EMB-120 Brasilia turboprops by the summer under a so-called transition plan that will see it become an all-jet carrier for the first time in its history. SkyWest said the plan to remove its last 44 Brasilias stems, in part, from increased costs associated with new FAR117 flight and duty-time rules, which require first officers to carry an airline transport pilot (ATP) certificate. It flies the airplanes in a West Coast network as a United Express carrier. SkyWest hasn’t yet revealed plans for discontinuing and reducing service to communities now connected to United hubs by the Brasilias.