Grounded carrier PEOPLExpress has said it is not ready to resume flights next week as planned, and has given no fixed date yet when it expects to fly again.
The carrier was grounded September 26 after both the planes it hired from Nevada-based Vision Airlines went out of service.
CEO Jeffrey Erickson said the company is still in talks with Vision, but it also has a tentative agreement with another company to supply aircraft.
PEOPLExpress needs further approval from the US Department of Transportation if it chooses to operate flights with aircraft not owned by original partner Vision Airlines.
Officials from the airline met earlier this week with the DOT but no decision has yet been taken on its new application as an ‘indirect air carrier.’
Erickson said it needs approval from DOT, a conclusive agreement for aircraft and a new operational agreement in place with the Peninsula Airport Commission to restart flights.
"I think the public responded strongly and that’s why we want to get relaunched with as short an out-of-service period as possible," Erickson said.
Erickson would not divulge the name of the new company that has agreed to supply aircraft, but acknowledged having the option of a third aircraft is important to cover any more technical hiccups.
