Mesa Air Group
Mesa Air Group 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
- US Airways as US Airways Express
- United Airlines as United Express
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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, eventually acquiring sufficient power and assets to acquire several competing regional air carriers.
In 1990 Mesa acquired Aspen Airways, (an operator for United Express).
In 1991 Mesa acquired Air Midwest, (an operator for US Airways Express).
In 1993 Mesa acquired West Air, (an operator for United Express).
In 1994 Mesa acquired Crown Airways.
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. The company's former CEO Jonathan Ornstein returned to Mesa to help the struggling carrier. Under his leadership, Mesa Air Group moved its headquarters from Farmington, NM to Phoenix, AZ. He also arranged a six-year deal for Mesa Airlines to operate flights as America West Express for America West Airlines. Again upon solid financial footing, Mesa Air Group has begun to seek expansion through acquisition of other regional carriers.
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.
Fleet
Data as of September 30, 2003.
| Type | Number | Seats Coach | Orders/Options |
| Canadair CRJ-200 | 43 | ||
| Canadair CRJ-700 | 15 | 0/40 | |
| Canadair CRJ-900 | 6 | 19/40 | |
| ERJ-145 | 32 | 4/0 | |
| Beechcraft 1900D | 42 | 4/0 | |
| De Havilland Canada Dash 8 | 12 | 0 |