A Bombardier spokeswoman earlier this month said the manufacturer is confident in its ability to find a home for these returned aircraft in places such as Africa and Russia, although parting some of them out also will be an option.

All of the Pinnacle CRJ200 aircraft were manufactured between 2000 and 2005.

Separately, under an agreement that Delta reached with SkyWest Inc. in August, that regional partner will operate an additional five CRJ700 aircraft and 29 CRJ900 aircraft for Delta in exchange for the early termination of 66 CRJ200s it operates under its existing Delta Connection agreements.

SkyWest said it would start removing the first of those 66 aircraft in August and the last by December 2015. Of those, 41 are Delta-financed aircraft that SkyWest will return to Delta, while the remaining 24 are SkyWest financed aircraft that will remain the regional carrier’s responsibility.