we're (Republic) fairly close to even on captains with upgrades every week or two it seems and we are flying a few of Mesas routes.

Since Im here, I don't think UA is buying Mesa. If they did they would have to buy gj and c5 and they don't want them either. Maybe some sort of real flow, but they would have to do that for gj and c5 and they arent announcing anything.

You're aware that UA already owns major stakes in both Mesa and C5, and part of the share stake in Republic, right? From a practical perspective, UA owns C5: they own the planes, the gas, the parts, the catering, the ops agents. C5 just provides flight crews and mechs.

You are also thus surely aware that if UA were to acquire *any* carrier they'd be required to operate those flights with UA FAs.

And finally, the only way C5 ever flies the 175 for UA is if someone else STOPs flying an equivalent number of 76-seaters due to scope limitations.

A and C are a wet dream. Sorry to burst your bubble. If United does any buying of Mesa it’s to consolidate their UAL feeder ops with CommutAir.

Is there a Value-Add to combining the two carriers? No disrespect to either C5 or Mesa; they're both struggling like every other regional carrier. Combine two dumpster fires to create a bigger inferno?

As someone either said or eluded to before...why is United so shy about creating official flow programs with their partners?

yes, I'm aware of most of that.

Please provide supporting the facts to these statements, otherwise these are 100% rumors and cannot be acknowledged as accurate. This thread should be closed !

The ****storm that would be cause by a joint Mesa/United integration is hilarious to think about though.

DON'T HOLD YOUR BREATH

No regional airline is being bought or merged with anyone until the new FAA Funding bill is signed into law. Especially not a debt laden loss-making airline like Mesa whose underperformance continues to disappoint even the most optimistic industry analysts. Today, Mesa announced a staggering $46.7 Million loss over a relatively short three month fiscal period. This isn't sustainable no matter who's paying the pilots salaries. Mesa's future is indeed unclear. Just about every airline both large & small periodically models their long-term growth prospects and capital investments in new aircraft, training facilities, labor contracts etc. Given the pilot shortage in recent years, just about all airlines have based these models on the assumption that congress would raise the retirement age for pilots in the next FAA funding bill.

AGE IS JUST A NUMBER, RIGHT?

Age 67 is anything but a done deal. The Age 67 amendment passed the House, but still has yet to clear the Senate. Raising the pilot retirement age to 67 will effectively be a lifeline to the regional airline industry, which is already in its death throes. Age 67 will temporarily help regional airlines like Mesa slow its Captain attrition rate by forcing older mainline pilots (Age 65+) out of their international seats, and into domestic flying, as ICAO's 65 year age limit will go unchanged regardless of the outcome of the FAA funding bill. Age 67 will relieve pressure on Mesa but the airline's future is all but certain. If the new FAA funding bill fails to raise the retirement age, it's very possible that Mesa, and other regional airlines may be headed for bankruptcy. ALPA, AFA, and several other AFL-CIO affiliate unions which collectively hold a death grip on the U.S. Senate are overwhelmingly against raising the retirement age. It's a bold position that could end up accelerating the end of the regional airline industry within months.

SHORT TERM PAIN

While Mesa is notorious for its operational mismanagement and fiscal incompetence, there are many factors outside of the company’s control that have affected the entire regional airline industry. The pilot shortage is the biggest factor, and has been exacerbated by the FAA with outdated certification standards, the majority of which were written in the 1960's. Some FAA regs are preserved in law under the false guise of promoting safety to the traveling public, while others are knee-jerk reactions to accidents & incidents, like the 1500-hour rule, an unnecessary barrier to many who might otherwise be actively flying in the airline industry right now. Thousands of pilots are also medically grounded on any given year by the FAA (Federal Air Surgeon) due to outdated medical certification standards which were also written in the 1960's. Raising the retirement age alone will not address the pilot shortage in any lasting or meaningful way. It's merely a temporary bandage. Unless the Senate has the appetite for a comprehensive review of the FAA's pilot certification, and medical standards, and/or is willing to place badly needed restrictions on the FAA which enjoys unlimited 'discretion' then it's probably in everyone's best interest to let the regional airline industry die.

EXHALE, BREATHE NORMALLY

In spite of United's existing investments and small strategic ownership stake in Mesa, it's unlikely United would merge or acquire Mesa Airlines anytime soon. At least not now, and not in Mesa's current financial state. What is likely though are more financial losses, more complex transactions, e.g. aircraft sales, parts auctions, leases, debt swaps, which through preferential pricing can sometimes shift & deflect blame for bad business decisions. In short you can expect more of the same until we all find out what's in the new FAA funding bill, specifically whether Age 67 will officially be signed into law. In the meantime I wouldn't hold my breath on any merger or acquisitions announcements.

by shrinking from 2500 to 1900, and hiring in both seats to hold what they got.
They haven’t retained, they’ve shrunk to a size where hiring can keep up with attrition, for now.

we're close to 50-50 and staffed well enough to fly out routes and routes other regionals couldn't handle