Delta plans to have every aircraft with a first class cabin in their network equipped with Wi-Fi internet service by early next year.

Yesterday, we announced the results of the companywide vote, which established the ExpressJet name with the legacy Atlantic Southeast branding as the winner. Take a look at the new ExpressJet logo below, and click here to read our press release about the name.

*Our corporate name will officially transition on Dec. 31, 2011.

ATLANTA (Oct. 14, 2011) – Atlantic Southeast Airlines, Inc., “Atlantic Southeast,” a wholly owned subsidiary of SkyWest, Inc. (NASDAQ: SKYW), today announced that it will adopt the ExpressJet Airlines, Inc. “ExpressJet ” name for its combined identity upon completion of its merger with ExpressJet Airlines. The merger is expected to be completed by Dec. 31, 2011, at which time the name would be effective.

“With regards to naming the new combined company, we sought suggestions and feedback from our entire workforce, of 10,000 team members, through internal name suggestion and selection processes that gave every team member a voice in the decision,” said Brad Holt, president and COO. He continued, “Our companywide vote clearly established the ExpressJet name with the legacy Atlantic Southeast branding as the winner and a brand identity our people can be proud of going forward.”

The combined airline’s brand identity borrows key elements of the legacy Atlantic Southeast and legacy ExpressJet brands.

About the Name Transition:
Atlantic Southeast and ExpressJet will continue operating as separate airlines, with separate operating certificates, until single operating certificate (SOC) status is achieved based on approval from the FAA. SOC approval is currently expected by the end of 2011. In the meantime, both airlines will continue using their current names for operational and corporate purposes. Our corporate name will officially transition on Dec. 31, 2011.

About the Atlantic Southeast and ExpressJet Merger:
Atlantic Southeast completed its acquisition of ExpressJet Airlines on Nov. 12, 2010, and has since been working to harmonize business functions and operational functions through the post merger integration and single operating certificate processes (SOC). Achieving SOC status from the FAA is a key milestone in the airline merger process that will allow the carriers to begin operating as a single airline. Atlantic Southeast and ExpressJet expect to achieve SOC by the end of 2011. The combined airline’s headquarters are in Atlanta.

About Atlantic Southeast & ExpressJet:
Atlantic Southeast Airlines, a wholly owned subsidiary of SkyWest, Inc., acquired ExpressJet Holdings, Inc., whose primary operating asset was ExpressJet Airlines, in November 2010. The merger of these two airlines will create the world’s largest regional airline with about 10,000 aviation professionals, 2,400 daily flights and an all-jet fleet of approximately 400 aircraft. Together, Atlantic Southeast and ExpressJet fly to more than 190 airports in 41 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, the Caribbean, Canada, and Mexico. Through capacity purchase agreements with Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, Atlantic Southeast operates as Delta Connection and United Express. ExpressJet operates as Continental Express and United Express through capacity purchase agreements with Continental Airlines and United Airlines.

Last weekend, a team of people from across our company traveled to Grapevine, Texas to participate in the 30th Annual World Airline Road Race (WARR). This special weekend was also a tribute to 9/11 and all the brave men and women who responded to that tragedy.

Team members either ran, jogged or walked the 10k and/or 5k events. All survived! Next year, WARR is scheduled to be held in Tsingtoa, China sometime in October.  Tsingtao is a tropical coastal city not far from Shanghai in distance, but worlds apart in atmosphere.  Be sure to check out www.worldairlineroadrace.org as more information is posted.

Our dedicated participants are already planning for WARR 2011 because the weekend isn’t just about the run/walk, it’s about the camaraderie shared among the participants from more than 50 airlines across the world!

Recently, I had the honor to participate in the selection of our company’s Award of Excellence nominations. Award of Excellence is our annual award program that recognizes the “best of the best” in our company. A task that I thought would be a simple one turned out to be quite difficult. As I read through all the nominations, I realized that this was going to be a task. Many of our coworkers had incredible things to say about one another.  They consistently spoke of witnessing professionalism, dedication and the courage to take on any challenge. This just goes to show how proud we all are of one another and of our airline.

When reading through the nominations, it became clear that we are an organization that works hard and is proud of what we accomplish. When selecting the nominations, I chose those who reminded me of coworkers who are constantly striving to make this a better airline by performing their duties with the utmost professionalism and pride.  I think once our Award of Excellence winners are announced, we will all agree that the recipients are well-deserving of this honor.

About Award of Excellence: The Award of Excellence honors 20 team members from across our company who are proactive in our company, consistently treat co-workers and customers with respect, and embody our company’s values. Richard was selected to review nominations submitted by team members about their colleagues. These nominations were then put before all of our employees for a company-wide vote to determine our Award of Excellence recipients. Recipients of the 2011 awards will be honored in October.

Our first internet-equipped flight departed Atlanta for Omaha, Neb., and then made stops in Des Moines, Iowa and White Plains, N.Y. throughout the day. Passengers were offered passes to try out the service by our friends at Gogo, the internet service provider.

Delta plans to launch Wi-Fi service on the entire fleet of first-class-cabin-equipped Delta Connection aircraft, including Atlantic Southeast’s fleet of CRJ700 and CRJ900 aircraft. Installation is scheduled to be complete by early 2012. Since adding first class cabins to our CRJ700 and CRJ900 aircraft more than a year ago, we have worked with Delta to introduce meal service, linens, china and silverware to flights operated on these aircraft.

When Captain Paul Koziol is not flying an Embraer 145 jet, you can find him in his personal plane.

Captain Paul Koziol loves flying. In his spare time, he shares that love with children, adults and aviation students through his work with aviation organizations across his home state of Ohio.

“I organize several events each year that offer children and adults a chance to ride in an airplane for free, talk with pilots and help them learn about all aspects of aviation,” Paul said.

Paul is involved with the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), the EAA Young Eagles program, the FAA Safety team, and the Commemorative Air Force. He also coordinates “International Learn the Fly Day” in Ohio. These organizations and events aim to introduce children and teenagers to the field of aviation, educate them about various careers and to encourage a love of flying in both kids and adults.

Paul shared stories of former Young Eagles he mentored as teenagers who are now beginning their careers as pilots. He says it makes him proud to see these kids pursuing their dreams of flying airplanes and maybe one day working in the aviation industry.

“These kids may not have ever been inside an airplane before or had only seen them from a distance. Now they are pursuing their pilot’s license after being introduced to aviation through our programs. It’s great to see the impact we have on these kids. Being able to share something you love with other people is so rewarding.”

It’s not just kids that aviation organizations focus on.  International Learn to Fly Day is designed to be a family event where parents and their kids can talk with professional and recreational pilots, tour local airports and learn about building and flying various types of aircraft. At last year’s event, ExpressJet was the only commercial airline to have a jet on display for attendees to tour.

“Last year’s event was hugely successful. Everyone loved being able to walk through the Embraer 145 we had on display. Next year’s International Learn to Fly Day will be even bigger and able to reach more people.”

Paul has been with ExpressJet for 13 years. He is involved on many levels within the company as an EMB145 captain, a line check airman and a crew resource management facilitator.  Aviation is Paul’s second career, and he says he made the right choice this time. He and his wife even own two private planes – that’s how much Paul loves flying.

Events like this one typically attract hundreds of attendees and are a great setting for future aviators to begin building relationships with airlines. For info about tickets and pricing, visit the FltOps website below.

Atlantic Southeast and ExpressJet have been welcoming pilots onboard since last fall, and right now our recruitment efforts are focused on hiring for our ExpressJet operation. As you may have heard, Atlantic Southeast and ExpressJet are in the process of merging our operations, and until we reach a single operating certificate from the FAA later this year, we will continue hiring for separately for each airline.

Check out the FltOps Jobs website for more info about the Chicago career fair.

ST. GEORGE, Utah,Aug. 9, 2011/PRNewswire/ — The Board of Directors of SkyWest, Inc. (NASDAQ: SKYW) declared a quarterly dividend of $.04 per share to Shareholders of record at the close of business on September 30, 2011 on all shares then issued and outstanding.  The 65th consecutive dividend will be paid on October 7, 2011.

SkyWest, Inc. 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 Airlines based in Atlanta, Georgia; and, recently acquired ExpressJet Airlines, Inc. (“ExpressJet Airlines”), based in Houston, Texas.  SkyWest Airlines operates as United Express and Delta Connection carriers under contractual agreements with United Airlines and Delta Air Lines.  SkyWest Airlines also operates flights for AirTran under a marketing agreement and 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 725 regional aircraft.  This press release and additional information regarding SkyWest can be accessed at www.skywest.com