Mesa Air Group and Republic Airways announce merger with little expected traveler impact

Travelers should expect minimal disruption from the merger of U.S. regional airlines Mesa Air Group and Republic Airways. Both airlines operate Embraer E170 and E175 flights for major U.S. carriers like American Eagle, Delta Connection, and United Express, making them two of the largest independent regional airlines in the country. In total, they manage a fleet of 310 E-Jets serving the major airlines, with only SkyWest Airlines being larger.

According to Bryan Bedford, president and CEO of Republic Airways, "Republic and Mesa share a common mission to connect communities across America, and we believe that we can better achieve that mission together." He added that the merger will create a "single, well-capitalized, public company" to benefit all stakeholders.

LaGuardia Airport in New York will serve as the largest base for the merged airline, based on April 2025 data from aviation analytics firm Cirium. The airlines will also have significant operations at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, Boston Logan International Airport, Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport, and Dulles International Airport near Washington, D.C.