Gregory Polek has spent his entire career in aviation journalism with AIN, starting as a proofreader and assistant to then-managing editor Mary Mahoney in 1995 after serving an internship with&nbsp;New Jersey Monthly&nbsp;magazine and completing his B.A. degree in English/Writing at New Jersey’s William Paterson College. By 1997 Polek accepted a position as an associate editor, covering the regional airline beat for&nbsp;Aviation International News&nbsp;in place of retiring industry veteran Don Anderson. The assignment took Polek across North America and Europe to profile regional airlines varying in size and mission from the likes of floatplane operators Kenmore Air and Chalk’s Ocean Airways to regional jet operators such as SkyWest and American Eagle. Today, in his dual role as Air Transport Editor and International Airshow Editor, Polek writes, edits, and manages AIN’s commercial aviation content while overseeing each of the company’s daily international air show publications in Paris, Farnborough, Singapore, and Dubai. Most recently Polek has assumed oversight of daily coverage of the Helicopter Association International’s annual Heli-Expo convention.

Senior Editor

Gregory Polek

Mesa Air Group last month won the rights to the assets of bankrupt Midway Airlines after outbidding Connecticut-based investment firm Wexford Capital by some $550,000. Mesa’s $9.15 million bid for the defunct airline bought it Midway’s operating certificate, six leased 50-seat Bombardier CRJs and the rights to three more leased CRJs and a pair of owned jets, all of Midway’s CRJ spare parts and support equipment, all landing and takeoff slots at New York La Guardia and Washington National Airports and all “acquisition materials” associated with the operation of Midway’s CRJs. It also agreed to assume some $90 million in debt associated with the fleet. Federal bankruptcy judge Thomas Small approved the bid after denying a motion by Midway’s pilots to hold Mesa to a successorship clause negotiated between ALPA and the previous management.
Mesa’s last-minute overture for Midway foiled Wexford’s plans to use the bankrupt carrier’s jets to start a new US Airways Express affiliate called Ascent Airlines. Mesa, whose chairman and CEO, Jonathan Ornstein, has publicly acknowledged difficulties in financing new aircraft acquisitions, would likewise use the jets to expand its relationship with US Airways or perhaps help satisfy suddenly daunting equipment needs associated with new code-share deals with United Airlines.

Mesa Wins Midway Assets

Mesa Air Group last month won the rights to the assets of bankrupt Midway Airlines after outbidding Connecticut-based investment firm Wexford Capital by so

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN