Republic Airways & Mesa Air Merge, Creating Major US Regional Carrier
Republic Airways Holdings announced on November 25, 2025, the successful completion of its merger with Mesa Air Group, a landmark transaction that creates the second-largest regional airline in the United States. The merger agreement, first announced on April 7, 2025, received stockholder approval on November 17, 2025, marking a significant consolidation in the regional aviation sector.
Under the merger terms, Republic Airways shareholders retain approximately 88% ownership of the combined company, while Mesa shareholders hold between 6% and 12%, contingent upon the final settlement of Mesa’s pre-closing obligations. The transaction creates a unified organization comprising more than 8,000 aviation professionals dedicated to expanding regional air service across North America.
“This merger establishes a combined company with a common mission to provide safe, clean, and reliable service to connect people and communities across America,” stated David Grizzle, CEO of Republic Airways. “The transaction will create value for all of our stakeholders and strengthen the regional aviation industry.”
The combined entity now operates the world’s largest Embraer jet fleet, consisting of 310 E-Jets. This expansive fleet will support over 1,300 daily flights connecting more than 100 cities across the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, and Mexico, significantly enhancing regional connectivity throughout North America.
Both carriers will maintain separate operations during the integration process. Republic Airways continues serving American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines under existing capacity purchase agreements. Mesa Airlines will expand its partnership with United Airlines through a newly established 10-year capacity purchase agreement negotiated as part of the merger framework.
This consolidation reflects ongoing industry trends toward regional carrier consolidation, positioning the merged entity to better compete with larger network carriers while providing enhanced service capabilities. The integration of operations and fleet management will likely generate operational efficiencies and improved resource allocation across the regional aviation market.
The merger strengthens the regional aviation sector by combining operational expertise, expanding fleet capacity, and enhancing service offerings to major carriers and traveling communities throughout North America. Industry observers view this consolidation as potentially stabilizing the regional airline market and improving service reliability for consumers.
Source ID: SRCE-2025-1764151234217-966