Mesa Air Group

What Mesa Air Group does

Mesa Air Group is a Phoenix-headquartered regional airline founded in 1982 that operates passenger service on behalf of major U.S. carriers under capacity purchase agreements (CPAs). Under the CPA model, the partner airline (principally United Airlines, branded as United Express) sells tickets and controls pricing and the network, while Mesa supplies the aircraft, crew, and maintenance in exchange for contracted block-hour payments. The company runs a fleet of Embraer E175 regional jets from bases in Phoenix, Houston, Washington Dulles, Louisville, Dallas, El Paso, Cincinnati, and Tucson, carrying approximately 15 million passengers annually across the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean.

The business has historically supplemented its passenger CPA with cargo operations (Boeing 737-400F freighters for DHL) and pilot development programs (United Aviate and the Mesa Pilot Development Program). Mesa also holds equity investments in next-generation airframes — Heart Aerospace's 19-seat ES-19 electric aircraft and Archer Aviation's eVTOL — both pursued jointly with United. In November 2025, Mesa completed an all-stock merger with Republic Airways Holdings, creating the world's largest Embraer jet fleet with 310+ aircraft, roughly 1,300 daily departures to about 125 cities, expected revenue of approximately $1.9 billion, and a NASDAQ listing under the RJET ticker. Integration of corporate, fleet, regulatory, and IT workstreams is ongoing.

The combined entity now participates in an industry with high barriers to entry (FAA certification, fleet financing, pilot supply constraints), tight coupling to major carrier network strategies, and structural pilot pipeline economics. Its revenue model remains primarily CPA-driven, with cargo and future electric-aircraft revenues as diversification options.

Name

Mesa Air Group

Legal name

Mesa Airlines

Website

https://mesa-air.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Mesa Air Group is a Phoenix-based regional airline operating a fleet of Embraer E175 regional jets as a United Express partner under capacity purchase agreements, connecting smaller airports to United's hubs. Following its November 2025 all-stock merger with Republic Airways, it is now part of the world's largest Embraer operator.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Regional Air Transportation

NAICS

Nonscheduled Chartered Passenger Air Transportation (481211), Nonscheduled Chartered Freight Air Transportation (481212)

SIC

Air Transportation, Scheduled (4512)

akta.pro primary industry

Capacity Purchase Agreement (CPA) / Branded Feeder Operators (THABACAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

ACMI / Wet-Lease Cargo Operators (THABAEAC), Charter Airlines & ACMI / Wet-Lease Passenger Operators (TLAFAAAC)

Keywords

• Regional airline services
• Passenger air transport
• Aircraft maintenance services
• Cargo air operations
• Pilot training programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Phoenix

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Capacity Purchase Agreements (CPA): Mesa operates flights on behalf of major airline partners (United Airlines) under capacity purchase agreements where the partner sells tickets and Mesa provides aircraft, crew, and maintenance services. Revenue is generated through contracted rates for block hours flown.
2. Cargo Operations: Partnership with DHL to operate Boeing 737-400F cargo aircraft, generating additional revenue streams beyond passenger operations

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Mesa Air Group is a regional airline operator headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, that provides commercial passenger air service using Embraer E175 aircraft under the United Express brand. Under capacity purchase agreements (CPAs) with major airline partners such as United Airlines, Mesa supplies the aircraft, crew, and maintenance while the partner airline sells tickets. The company also operates cargo flights for DHL using Boeing 737-400F aircraft and supports pilot career development through its Mesa Pilot Development Program and the United Aviate partnership.

Product overview

Mesa Airlines is a regional airline that provides commercial passenger air service operating a fleet of Embraer E175 aircraft as a United Express partner. The company offers regional connectivity from smaller airports to major hubs. Beyond core airline operations, Mesa provides pilot career development through the United Aviate program and its own Pilot Development Program, aircraft maintenance services (FAA Diamond Award-winning), and flight attendant services. The company has also invested in sustainable aviation through partnerships with Archer Aviation (eVTOL aircraft) and Heart Aerospace (ES-19 electric regional aircraft). In November 2025, Mesa completed its merger with Republic Airways Holdings, creating one of the largest publicly traded regional airline operators in the United States.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• United Express: Mesa operates flights on behalf of United Airlines under the United Express brand.

Products and services

• United Express Regional Passenger Service Commercial passenger air service operating Embraer E175 aircraft under the United Express brand, connecting passengers from smaller airports to United's major hubs. United Airlines sells tickets while Mesa provides the aircraft, crew, and maintenance under capacity purchase agreements.
• Mesa Pilot Development Program
• United Aviate Career Pathway Program
• Aviation Maintenance Services
• Flight Attendant Crew Services In-flight cabin crew services operating on United Express regional routes covering the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Caribbean, supported by crew bases in Phoenix, Houston, Washington Dulles, and Louisville.
• DHL Cargo Operations Cargo air transport services provided through a partnership with DHL, operating Boeing 737-400F freighter aircraft within DHL's regional logistics network.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 15 million passengers safely delivered annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• Republic Airways HoldingsflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 November 2025Mesa Air Group completed an all-stock merger with Republic Airways Holdings in November 2025. The combined entity became one of the largest publicly traded regional airline operators in the United States. Republic shareholders retained approximately 88% ownership while Mesa shareholders received 6-12% depending on pre-closing criteria. The merger created the world's largest Embraer jet fleet with 310+ aircraft supporting over 1,300 daily departures.
• United AirlinesflagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 25 November 2025Mesa operates flights on behalf of United Airlines under the United Express brand, connecting passengers from smaller airports to United's major hubs. United flies to 238 domestic and 118 international destinations. This is Mesa's primary operating partnership.
• Heart AerospacecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMesa invested in Heart Aerospace, a company planning to produce the world's first 19-seat electric aircraft (ES-19). Mesa plans to add 100 ES-19 aircraft to its regional fleet, revolutionizing air service to small markets through electric aviation technology.
• Archer AviationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Archer Aviation and United Airlines to develop electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. The Maker aircraft can travel up to 60 miles at speeds of 150 mph using electric motors, aiming to decarbonize regional air travel.
• DHLcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with DHL to operate Boeing 737-400F cargo aircraft, expanding Mesa's operations into cargo logistics alongside passenger service.
• United Aviate ProgramcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUnited's industry-leading pilot career development program where Mesa serves as an Express partner. Provides aspiring pilots the most direct path from Mesa to United flight deck through a structured three-step pathway requiring 1600 flight hours minimum.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Breeze Airways: Founded 2018 by JetBlue founder David Neeleman, Breeze operates point-to-point domestic service using E195 and A220 aircraft. Comparable as newer-generation regional/short-haul operator with overlapping Embraer fleet.

Direct peers

• Envoy Air: Wholly-owned American Airlines regional subsidiary operating as American Eagle. Closely comparable CPA-driven regional operation, though exclusively tied to a single major carrier (American).
• PSA Airlines: American Airlines regional subsidiary operating CRJ-700/900 aircraft as American Eagle. Direct comparable in CPA-partner regional model with overlapping aircraft types (CRJ-900).
• GoJet Airlines: Trans States Holdings subsidiary operating as United Express and Delta Connection with CRJ-700/900 aircraft. Direct CPA-partner competitor with United overlap.
• Piedmont Airlines: American Airlines regional subsidiary operating as American Eagle with Embraer ERJ-145 aircraft. Comparable CPA regional operator with single-major-carrier dependency.
• Horizon Air: Alaska Airlines regional subsidiary operating Embraer 175 aircraft. Direct comparable in E175 platform operation under CPA model with single major partner.
• CommutAir: United Express regional partner operating Embraer ERJ-145 aircraft. Direct comparable in United CPA model though smaller and operating an older 50-seat aircraft type.
• Air Wisconsin Airlines: United Express regional partner operating CRJ-200 aircraft. Direct United CPA peer with similar relationship structure to Mesa's primary partnership.
• Atlas Air: Major ACMI/wet-lease cargo operator and passenger charter provider. Direct comparable to Mesa's DHL cargo partnership side and ACMI-style operating model for third-party customers.
• SkyWest Airlines: Largest US regional airline operating under CPA for United, Delta, American, and Alaska. Most direct comparable to Mesa given overlapping CPA-partner business model, multi-aircraft-type fleet, and United Express relationship.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MesaAirlines
• Instagraminstagram.com/republicairways
• Facebookfacebook.com/MesaAirlines
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mesa-airlines

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments2 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Mesa Air Group