St. George, Utah-based SkyWest Airlines began flying as a US Airways Express partner on December 16, when it launched six daily flights from US Airways’ hub in Phoenix. The new three-year contact calls for SkyWest Airlines to operate some 49 flights to 19 destinations by the spring and includes an option for US Airways to switch equipment to CRJ700s.

SkyWest has agreed to serve US Airways’ Phoenix-based operation with fourteen 50-passenger Bombardier CRJ200s, replacing the CRJ200 and de Havilland Dash 8 turboprop service flown by Mesa Airlines. Mesa will now share 86 US Airways Express flights out of Phoenix with SkyWest.

The world’s largest independently owned regional airline, SkyWest also partners with United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, AirTran Airways and Alaska Airlines.