Category Archives: Mesa Air Group

Mesa Airlines orders seven more Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft

Mesa Airlines, Inc. (Phoenix) has announced it has reached an agreement in principle, subject to definitive documentation, with Montreal-based Bombardier Inc. for the purchase of seven new CRJ900 NextGen aircraft to operate under a long-term capacity purchase agreement with a major U.S. airline. The aircraft will be purchased new from Bombardier and will bring the total number of CRJ900 aircraft operated by the Company to 64. The Company expects delivery of the seven additional aircraft in 2015. The agreement also includes an undisclosed number of options to purchase additional CRJ900 aircraft.

American Airlines is expanding the agreement with Mesa for these seven new CRJ900s. All 64 CRJ900s will eventually be operated under the American Eagle brand.

Mesa currently operates its CRJ900s as an American Eagle and US Airways Express carrier.

Mesa was the launch customer for the CRJ900 aircraft in 2001 and is one of the largest operators of CRJ900 aircraft in the world.

The addition of these seven aircraft and 11 new E-175s scheduled for delivery later this year will bring Mesa’s fleet total to 115 aircraft by October of 2015.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Bombardier CRJ900 (CL-600-2D24) N948LR (msn 15118) climbs away from Los Angeles International Airport.

American Eagle-Mesa Airlines aircraft slide show:

http://airlinersgallery.smugmug.com/Airlines-UnitedStates-1/Airlines-UnitedStates-1/American-Eagle-Mesa-Airlines

go! won’t fly after April 1, Mesa gives up on Hawaii

Mesa Air Group, Inc. (Phoenix) has announced it will cease its Hawai’i operations under the go! (Honolulu) brand effective April 1, 2014. According to Mesa, “Since June 2006, go! has served its nearly five million passengers with safe, reliable and low fare service.” The group continued:

The decision to cease operations in Hawaii follows significant growth in the Company’s flight operations on the mainland and was a strategic decision to focus the organization on maximizing its growth in the capacity purchase “codeshare” operations which comprise over 98 percent of the Company’s business

“While this was an extremely difficult decision to reach, we believe it is in the best interest of Mesa’s long term strategic objectives, particularly given the Company’s ongoing expansion of aircraft in service with United Airlines and US Airways. Mesa will be placing into service 30 Embraer EMB 175 aircraft with United beginning in June 2014, and is adding 4 Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft with US Airways in 2014, having added 9 CRJ900s in 2013,” said Jonathan Ornstein, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “With the significant expansion opportunities in flying large regional jets in contracted service, we are re-deploying the go! aircraft to support our existing mainland operations. An additional factor that we accounted for was the long term increase in the cost of fuel, which has more than doubled since go! began service and has caused sustained profitability to be elusive” continued Ornstein.

Under the terms of an agreement with Hawaiian Airlines, go! will be able to re-book passengers ticketed through go! for travel scheduled between April 1, 2014 and June 30, 2014 in specified fare classes on Hawaiian’s Interisland network. go! will refund tickets for passengers who cannot be accommodated on Hawaiian Airlines, or for passengers holding tickets for travel after June 30, 2014. All ticket holders will be contacted by go! reservations representatives regarding the re-accommodations. Customers and travel agents needing additional information may call 1-888-435-9462 or visit the website at .

“go! will continue to provide its passengers with safe and reliable transportation through its last day of service, and will work with our passengers and Hawaiian Airlines to minimize the impact that this announcement will have on our passengers,” noted Chris Pappaioanou, President of go!.

“On behalf of Mesa Air Group, I would like to thank all of our many loyal passengers and the continued hard work and dedication of our employees – all of whom will be given an opportunity to continue their employment with Mesa Airlines. While we say goodbye to our many passengers in Hawaii, we look forward to serving you on the mainland through our significant codeshare operations,” continued Ornstein.

Mesa currently operates 71 aircraft with approximately 407 daily system departures to 85 cities, 36 states, the District of Columbia, Canada and Mexico. Mesa operates as US Airways Express and United Express under contractual agreements with US Airways and United Airlines, respectively. The Company was founded by Larry and Janie Risley in New Mexico in 1982.

Meanwhile, Mokulele Airlines has announced it is honoring the flights purchased on go! Airlines for travel on Mokulele where available. For go! flights that were purchased on Mokulele’s website for travel to Kaua’i and Hilo, passengers should contact Mokulele for refunds. Mokulele Airlines has had a code share agreement with go! since November 2011 when TransPac Aviation purchased the turbo prop division from Mesa Air Group.

go!:

Current Route Map:

Mesa Air Group to expand its partnership with US Airways

Mesa Air Group, Inc. (Mesa Airlines) (Phoenix has announced it has reached an agreement with US Airways, Inc. (Phoenix) to extend the term covering its original 38 Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft currently in operation and for the addition of four CRJ900 aircraft to its current fleet of 47 aircraft under the US Airways Express contract. The term of the agreement covering the 38 aircraft was extended until 2021 and the term for the 4 additional aircraft is 8 years from their induction date. No further details of the agreement were released.

Mesa currently operates 69 aircraft with approximately 396 daily system departures to 77 cities, and recently announced an additional 30 Embraer 175 aircraft will be flying for United Airlines. Mesa operates as US Airways Express and United Express under contractual agreements with US Airways and United Airlines, respectively, and independently as go!.

Eventually the company will become a new American Eagle branded operator with the final merger of the two AOCs into one for American Airlines.

Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum/AirlinersGallery.com. Bombardier CRJ900 (CL-600-2D24) N919FJ (msn 15019) of Mesa departs from the Charlotte hub.

US Airways Express-Mesa:

Mesa extends its contract with United Airlines to 2019 to operate 20 Bombardier CRJ700s, will also add 30 Embraer 175 aircraft

Mesa Air Group, Inc. (Mesa Airlines) (Phoenix) has announced a new agreement with United Airlines (Chicago) that extends the term of its existing fleet of 20 Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet aircraft to 2019 and adds 30 new United owned Embraer 175 (ERJ 175) aircraft under the United Express contract.

Under the terms of this agreement Mesa will place the new Embraer 175 jets into service over the next two years. Mesa will hire approximately 350 pilots, 300 flight attendants, and 200 maintenance and other support personnel to support the additional aircraft.

“This is truly a great day for Mesa. We will continue to work hard to provide the best possible service to United’s customers,” said Jonathan Ornstein, Mesa’s Chairman and CEO. “Mesa began operating under the United Express banner in 1992, and we are delighted to have this opportunity to expand our longstanding partnership. Our first codeshare agreement with United transformed our company, and I am sure this one will do the same. We are also very pleased to rejoin the Embraer family of operators and look forward to working with our many friends there as well.”

Paul Foley, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, said, “It has always been our goal to exceed the expectations of both our partners and customers. We believe this contract is evidence that our operational performance and industry leading cost structure have begun to pay big dividends for the company and our people. Based on data from the Department of Transportation, Mesa has been the number one performing regional airline for each of the last three years. We’d like to thank all of our people who have contributed to our success and enabled us to compete successfully for this new business.”

Mesa Airlines currently operates over 425 daily system departures to 82 cities, 32 states, Mexico and the District of Columbia, as United Express and US Airways Express under contractual agreements with United Airlines and US Airways, respectively, and independently in Hawaii as go! The airline, founded by Larry and Janie Risley in New Mexico in 1982, has approximately 2,000 employees.

Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough/AirlinersGallery.com. Mesa Airlines’ Bombardier CRJ700 (CL-600-2C10) N515MJ (msn 10117) arrives at the Washington (Dulles) hub.

United Express-Mesa Airlines:

Mesa reinforces its on-time performance again in March

Mesa Air Group, Inc. (Mesa Airlines) (Phoenix), the number one on-time regional airline in 2010 and 2011, announces its number one rank among US regional airlines for on-time arrivals in March 2012, as reported by US Department of Transportation (DOT), Bureau of Transportation Statistics in the Air Travel Consumer Report, the industry recognized measure of performance. Mesa’s operational performance has ranked it as the number one On-time Regional Airline every month since April 2010, and the latest award reinforces Mesa’s continued commitment to serve our Code Share Partners and passengers with safe, reliable on-time air transportation. In addition to continuing its status as the number one on-time regional airline, Mesa was ranked first among regional carriers with the fewest mishandled bags and was ranked first among all airlines for having the fewest complaints per 100,000 passengers carried.

The airline’s accomplishment is especially impressive given the airline’s footprint of service in 34 states nationwide, including significant service at four of the nation’s five busiest airports. Mesa Airlines operates as US Airways Express and United Express under contractual agreements with US Airways and United Airlines, respectively, and independently as go!, a Low Fare airline which is about to enter its 6^th year of offering low fares to visitors and residents of Hawai’i as the second largest inter-island airline based on passengers carried.

With these announcements about its on-time performance, Mesa is building its case for reliability.

Top Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough.

United Express-Mesa Slide Show: CLICK HERE

US Airways-Mesa Slide Show: CLICK HERE

Bottom Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum.

Mesa Airlines wins the “triple crown” for regional carriers in 2011 and January 2012

Mesa Airlines (Mesa Air Group) (Phoenix) which won the number one on-time regional airline award in 2010 and 2011, obtained the number one rank among U.S. regional airlines for on-time arrivals in January 2012, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation Air Travel Consumer Report, the industry recognized measure of performance. In addition to being ranked first among regional airlines for on-time arrivals, Mesa was ranked first among regional airlines for fewest mishandled bags and first among all air carriers for fewest complaints per 100,000 passengers – the “Triple Crown” of operational performance. This recognition and the company’s strong operational performance reflect Mesa’s continued commitment to its Code Share Partners and Passengers.

Mesa Airlines currently operates 77 aircraft with over 395 daily system departures to 87 cities, 33 states, Mexico and the District of Columbia. Mesa operates as US Airways Express and United Express under contractual agreements with US Airways and United Airlines, respectively, and independently as go!. In June 2006, Mesa launched inter-island Hawai’i service as go! and in October 2009 formed a joint-venture with Mokulele Airlines. The go! Mokulele operation links Honolulu to the neighbor island airports of Hilo, Kona, Kahului, Ho’olehua, Lana’i and Lihu’e.

United Express-Mesa Airlines High-Res Slide Show: CLICK HERE

Mesa sells off the Mokulele Hawaiian operation

Mesa Air Group (Phoenix) has sold its Mokulele Flight Services, Inc. (Mokulele Airlines) (Honolulu) inter-island Hawaiian turboprop service operating four, nine seat, Cessna Grand Caravan aircraft to Transpac Aviation, Inc. (Scottsdale).

Mesa will continue to operate its jet inter-island service as go! Mokulele with Bombardier CRJ200 regional jets. Under the terms of the sale Transpac Aviation, operating as Mokulele Flight Services, Inc, will also continue to offer feeder service under the go! Mokulele brand and serve it’s current routes as a code-share partner with Mesa.

Copyright Photo: Ivan K. Nishimura. Bombardier CRJ200 N77278 (msn 7278) of Mesa Airlines taxies at the Honolulu base under the go! Mokulele brand. Mesa operates the main routes in Hawaii while Mokulele Airlines operates the smaller feeder routes also under the go! Mokulele brand.

Route Map:

Mesa Air Group emerges from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection

United Express-Mesa Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 (CL-600-2C10) N521LR (msn 10261) CLT (Bruce Drum), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.

Mesa Air Group (Phoenix) as expected, yesterday (March 1) emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

Mesa Air Group’s Plan of Reorganization became effective on March 1, allowing the company to emerge from its reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. Mesa and its related subsidiaries entered bankruptcy protection on January 5, 2010 and Mesa’s exit from bankruptcy protection in 13 months places it among the fastest reorganizations in aviation history.

The Company’s restructuring accomplishments included:

Elimination of 100 excess aircraft and associated leases and debt which contributed to the deleveraging of Mesa’s balance sheet in the approximate amount of $700 million in capitalized leases and $50 million in debt;
Restructuring of aircraft leases and financings for Mesa’s remaining CRJ200 and DHC-8 fleets resulting in flexibility, no long term lease exposure and lower costs on the CRJ200 50-seat regional jet aircraft;
Emerging as a private company that will issue four new series of notes, shares of common stock, and/or warrants to purchase shares of its common stock to its creditors in exchange for their claims in the Chapter 11 proceedings;
Extending the term of the code-share agreement with US Airways through September 2015.

Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum. Please click on the photo for additional information about the United Express-Mesa operation.

United Airlines (including Continental Airlines) North American Route Map (includes United Express routes): CLICK HERE

A new leaner Mesa Air Group prepares to exit Chapter 11

US Airways Express-Mesa Airlines Bombardier CRJ900 (CL-600-2D24) N934FJ (msn 15034) LGB (Stephen Tornblom), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.

Mesa Air Group (Phoenix) is expected to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection this week with US Airways as its major partner.

Read the full story from the Arizona Republic: CLICK HERE

US Airways and Mesa Air Group extend their contract

US Airways Express-Mesa Airlines Bombardier CRJ900 (CL-600-2D24) N919FJ (msn 15019) CLT (Bruce Drum), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.

US Airways (Phoenix) and the Mesa Air Group, Inc. (Phoenix) have announced they have reached an agreement in principle to extend their code share agreement covering 38 Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft for an additional term of 39 months to September 2015. Under the term sheet, Mesa Airlines, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Mesa Air Group, will continue to provide regional jet service under the US Airways Express banner. The agreement is subject to approval by Mesa’s and US Airways Boards of Directors and the Bankruptcy Court overseeing Mesa’s restructuring.

Under the agreement Mesa will continue to provide US Airways Express service out of US Airways’ hubs in Phoenix, AZ and Charlotte, NC utilizing aircraft in Mesa’s current fleet.