American Airlines Subsidiary Piedmont Reactivates Aircraft from Storage

American Airlines regional subsidiary Piedmont has recently announced that it has started the process of bringing aircraft out of storage for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Piedmont, which operates American Eagle-branded flights across the eastern United States, is planning to revive two 50-seat Embraer E145s per month from their storage location in the southern Arizona desert by February.

According to Piedmont’s vice president of maintenance and engineering, Bill Arndt, the decision to take these planes out of long-term storage is a significant milestone for the airline. He mentioned that each aircraft scheduled to return to service will undergo thorough maintenance checks and conformity procedures before being reintegrated into the active fleet.

Industry Trends

The move by Piedmont to reactivate its stored aircraft is indicative of broader trends in the aviation industry. It signals that the pilot shortage that emerged as a result of the pandemic may be starting to ease. This is in contrast to Mesa Airlines, which operates United Express flights, as they recently had to implement job cuts, including furloughing 12 pilots and halting training for 41 new pilots.

American Airlines has been strategically focusing on restoring regional flights, where it believes it has a competitive advantage over its rivals, Delta and United. The decision to bring back 50-seat planes into service is particularly noteworthy for American, as it demonstrates a commitment to diversifying its regional fleet. While larger 70- and 76-seat regional jets are typically more profitable to operate, the reactivation of the smaller aircraft underscores American’s comprehensive approach to regional flying.

Piedmont’s initiative to reactivate aircraft from storage reflects a broader shift in the aviation industry as airlines navigate the challenges presented by the pandemic. By carefully managing their fleet and responding to changing market dynamics, airlines like American Airlines and its regional subsidiary, Piedmont, are positioning themselves for a successful recovery in the post-pandemic era.