Republic Airways

Republic Airways Holdings was organized in 1998 by Wexford Capital as a holding company for regional carrier Chautauqua Airlines (the operating airline founded 1973 in Jamestown, NY); expanded through the 2000s by acquiring Shuttle America (2005), the legacy Republic Airlines brand (the original Republic, founded 1979 from a merger of North Central and Southern, was absorbed into Northwest Airlines in 1986; the brand was revived for the regional carrier), and operating Frontier Airlines briefly (2009–2013) until divesting to Indigo Partners. IPO'd on NASDAQ as RJET in May 2004; filed Chapter 11 in February 2016 to restructure capacity-purchase agreements with its three mainline partners; emerged in April 2017 as a private company. Announced an all-stock merger with Mesa Air Group on April 7, 2025; closed the merger on November 25, 2025, with Mesa Air Group as the surviving corporation renamed Republic Airways Holdings Inc., re-listing on NASDAQ as RJET via the Mesa shell (converted from Nevada to Delaware, 15-for-1 reverse stock split at close). Mesa Airlines continues as a subsidiary. Long-running CEO Bryan Bedford led Republic from 1999 through July 2, 2025; nominated FAA Administrator by President Trump in March 2025 and confirmed by the U.S. Senate as Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration on July 9, 2025. David Grizzle has been CEO since the Bedford retirement; Matt Koscal, longtime President and Chief Commercial Officer, was named the next CEO effective June 15, 2026. The holding-company executive officer roster, board composition, voting structure, and post-merger governance details live on the Republic Airways Holdings leadership page. Republic remains the largest US regional carrier by departures, operating exclusively the Embraer E170/E175 family under the American Eagle, Delta Connection, and United Express brands.