Atlantic Southeast Airlines, ExpressJet Airlines Gain Final FAA Approval To Operate As One

ST. GEORGE, Utah, Nov. 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- SkyWest, Inc. (NASDAQ: SKYW) announces its wholly owned subsidiary, Atlantic Southeast Airlines ("Atlantic Southeast"), and ExpressJet Airlines ("ExpressJet") a wholly owned subsidiary of Atlantic Southeast, received approval Thursday from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for a single operating certificate. This was the final regulatory step for the two merging airlines to operate as one.

"I am extremely proud of the talented aviation professionals across our company, who have worked so hard for the past year to combine our processes and procedures to achieve this milestone," said Brad Holt, president & COO – Atlantic Southeast and ExpressJet. "As we begin operating as a single carrier, we will continue focusing on delivering safe, reliable service while improving our cost competitiveness."

The carriers achieved the single operating certificate in record time while safely continuing daily operations. The FAA's approval comes just 12 months after SkyWest, Inc. announced its acquisition of ExpressJet and plans to merge the two airlines.

"We are extremely thankful for the work and dedication our people have put into this process," said Brad Rich, president – SkyWest, Inc. "Achieving this milestone allows us to continue our strategic integration and cost-reduction plans that we believe will position us to offer an exceptional product to our passengers and major partners and will create additional value for our shareholders."

Effective Dec. 31, 2011, the combined airline will operate solely as ExpressJet Airlines and will be the largest regional airline in the world with more than 400 aircraft operating 2,350 flights each day.

About SkyWest

SkyWest is the holding company for three scheduled passenger airline operations and an aircraft leasing company and is headquartered in St. George, Utah. SkyWest's scheduled passenger airline operations include SkyWest Airlines also based in St. George, Utah, Atlantic Southeast based in Atlanta, Georgia and ExpressJet Airlines based in Houston, Texas.  SkyWest Airlines operates as United Express, and Delta Connection carriers under contractual agreements with United and Delta.  Also, SkyWest Airlines operates flights for Alaska under a contractual agreement.  Atlantic Southeast operates as United Express and Delta Connection carriers under contractual agreements with United and Delta. ExpressJet Airlines operates as Continental Express and United Express under contractual agreements with Continental Airlines, Inc. and United and is a subsidiary of Atlantic Southeast.  System-wide, SkyWest serves markets in the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean with approximately 4,000 daily departures and a fleet of approximately 727 regional aircraft.  This press release and additional information regarding SkyWest can be accessed at www.skywest.com.

SOURCE SkyWest, Inc.

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