Regional airlines are undergoing a shake-up.
Mesa Airlines will stop flying for American Airlines on April 3, 2023.
Mesa has operated flights for American Eagle out of Dallas/Fort Worth and Phoenix. There were flights to places like El Paso, Texas.
The map below shows Mesa's scheduled flights on behalf of American Eagle, but most of them will be diverted to other airlines.
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At least one route has been cut as part of Mesa's operation. The route from Phoenix to Rapid City was last operated by Mesa for American Eagle in October. The route adjustment inquiry was not responded to by American.
American Airlines is blaming the decision to sever ties with Mesa on the affiliate's financial and operational difficulties this year, according to an internal memo signed by the airline's CFO.
We are concerned about Mesa's ability to be a reliable partner. The best way to address these concerns is to wind down the agreement.
The memo states that American plans to backfill most of Mesa's routes. This includes American's regional subsidiaries Envoy Air, Piedmont Airlines and PSA Airlines, along with partners like SkyWest Airlines, Republic Airways and Air Wisconsin, a new regional affiliate that American plans to integrate into its network.
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There is more to the story than American says.
Mesa Airlines told employees to forget what they've heard about the American news in an internal memo. The memo signed by Jonathan Ornstein, Mesa's CEO, says that the company is in a position to announce one of the most exciting and positive developments in the past 40 years.
Mesa's regional operations will be transitioned to United Airlines, according to a memo. Mesa's CRJ-900 jets will be moved to United Express which will base Mesa's operations in Denver and Houston.
We will update the story when we hear back from United.
The carrier was losing $5 million a month. Increased wages for pilots associated with the nationwide pilot shortage and not flying as much as it originally contracted with American are blamed for the airline's losses.
Passengers shouldn't be affected by the shake-up in regional carriers. The biggest implication is that United will get more regional jets with the addition of Mesa's CRJ-900s.
After leaving the fleet in June 2020, the unpopular 50-seat, all-economy regional jet will once again fly for American Eagle.
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