Mesa Air Group
Mesa Air Group (Nasdaq: MESA) is a holding company founded in 1982 and currently a Nevada Company with principal offices in Phoenix, Arizona. Mesa operates 180 aircraft, turboprop and regional jets, providing commuter, charter and freight service to more than 182 cities, both domestic and international.
Mesa operates code share commuter service for the following airlines:
- America West Airlines as America West Express, operated by Mesa Airlines with CRJ-900, CRJ-200, and Dash 8 aircraft
- US Airways as US Airways Express, operated by Mesa Airlines with CRJ-200 and ERJ-145 equipment, and by Air Midwest with Beech 1900D aircraft
- United Airlines as United Express, operated by Mesa Airlines with CRJ-700, CRJ-200, and Dash 8 aircraft
- Delta Air Lines as Delta Connection, operated by Freedom Airlines with ERJ-145 aircraft, to begin October 2005
- Midwest Airlines additionally codeshares on Air Midwest's US Airways Express flights at Kansas City
Mesa also operates its own service under the Mesa Airlines brand, operated by Air Midwest with Beech 1900D aircraft.
As of FY2005 the Mesa Air Group with its subsidaires employs over 5,000 people.
Subsidiaries
- Mesa Airlines, Inc.
- Air Midwest, Inc.
- Freedom Airlines, Inc.
- MPD, Inc.
- Regional Aircraft Services, Inc
- MAGI Insurance, Ltd.
- Ritz Hotel Management Corp
- Mesa Air Group-- Aircraft Inventory Management, LLC
History
In 1982 Larry Risley founded Mesa in Farmington, New Mexico with the purchase of the company's first airplane. The company expanded and grew over the next fifteen years, acquiring several competing regional air carriers in the process.
In 1990 Mesa acquired Aspen Airways, (an operator for United Express).
In 1991 Mesa acquired Air Midwest, (an operator for USAir Express).
In 1991 Mesa opened a division FloridaGulf Airlines, (an operator for USAir Express).
In 1993 Mesa acquired WestAir, (an operator for United Express).
In 1994 Mesa acquired assets of Crown Airways, and set up a new division, Liberty Express, (an operator for USAir Express).
In August of 1996, Mesa agreed to purchase 21 Bombardier CRJ-200 aircraft.
In 1997 and 1998, financial problems ended Mesa's partnership with United Airlines. Jonathan Ornstein, the company's former Executive Vice President and President of its Westair Holding, Inc. subsidiary, returned to Mesa to help the struggling carrier. His goal was to restore the confidence of Mesa's passengers, airline partners, regulatory authorities and shareholders. Under his leadership, Jonathan created a new corporate identity, inked a new six-year deal with codeshare partner America West, moved the company's headquarters from Farmington, N.M., to Phoenix, Arizona, and oversaw a comprehensive operational and financial restructuring, which paved the way for Mesa's return to profitability.
In 1999 Mesa acquired CCAir, (an operator for US Airways Express).
In June of 1999, Mesa agreed to purchase 46 Embraer ERJ-145 aircraft with an option to acquire 45 additional aircraft.
In May of 2001, Mesa agreed to purchase 15 CRJ-700 aircraft and 25 CRJ-900 aircraft. Mesa served as the launch customer for the CRJ-900. Mesa set up subsidiary Freedom Airlines to operate the larger jets.
In 2004 Mesa acquired assets of Midway Airlines, (an operator for US Airways Express).
In May of 2005, Mesa announced that subsidiary Freedom Airlines will begin operating up to 30 ERJ-145 aircraft for Delta Air Lines under the Delta Connection banner.
In September of 2005 Mesa announced it's plans to establish an independent inter-island Hawaiian airline with service expected to begin in the 1st quarter of 2006.
Fleet
Data as of June 30, 2005.
| Type | Number | Seats | Orders/Options |
| Canadair CRJ-200 | 56 | 50 | 0/0 |
| Canadair CRJ-700 | 15 | 64 | 0/601 |
| Canadair CRJ-900 | 38 | 86 | 10/601 |
| ERJ-145 | 36 | 50 | 0/45 |
| Beechcraft 1900D | 232 | 19 | 0/0 |
| De Havilland Canada Dash 8 | 16 | 37 | 0/0 |
160 total options for CRJ-700/900 aircraft 2Mesa owns 11 additional B1900D aircraft subleased to other carriers
External links
Company home page and a source for some information
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