Another US airline merger is brewing, but the Mesa-Republic deal may fly under travelers' radar
Travelers should see little impact from the latest U.S. airline merger between regional giants Mesa Air Group and Republic Airways.
If you have flown on either an Embraer E170 or E175 at American Eagle, Delta Connection or United Express, the odds are you have flown on either Mesa or Republic. The carriers are two of the largest independent regional airlines in the U.S., with a combined 310 E-Jets flying for the Big Three. Only Utah-based SkyWest Airlines is larger.
And the merger lacks any of the normal challenges that can create disruptions for travelers. Since Mesa and Republic only operate flights for their partners, they do not need to, for example, integrate reservations systems or loyalty programs — steps that have created big passenger disruptions during past mergers.
Bargain hunting: When is the best time to book flights for the cheapest airfare?
"Republic and Mesa share a common mission to connect communities across America, and we believe that we can better achieve that mission together," Bryan Bedford, president and CEO of Republic, said in a statement. "With this combination, we are establishing a single, well-capitalized, public company that will benefit from the deep expertise of Republic and Mesa associates, creating value for all stakeholders well into the future."
Bedford, who would be in line to lead the combined airline, is expected to leave Republic in the coming months once he is confirmed as administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration.
Big eastern and southern presence
New York's LaGuardia Airport (LGA) is the merged airline's largest base, according to April 2025 schedules from aviation analytics firm Cirium. Mesa and Republic operate a combined 4,734 departures for primarily American Airlines and Delta Air Lines from the airport.
The airlines' other largest bases are Chicago's O'Hare International Airport (ORD) where they feed American and United Airlines' competing hubs; Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), a hub for Delta; Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), a hub for United; and Dulles International Airport (IAD) near Washington, D.C., also a United hub, Cirium data shows.
Mesa and Republic plan to maintain their "current basing structures and routes" if the merger is approved, they said in a statement.
Details of the Mesa-Republic merger
Mesa and Republic hope to close their merger by late in the third quarter or early in the fourth quarter — roughly in September or October — of 2025. The deal is subject to shareholder approval and U.S. Department of Justice sign-off.
The all-stock deal would see Mesa shareholders own up to 12% of the combined airline and Republic shareholders owning the balance.
American and United would count themselves among owners of the new regional carrier. American currently owns 25% of Republic; United owns roughly 10% of Mesa and 19% of Republic.
The new airline would retain the Republic name and likely maintain the carrier's current headquarters in Carmel, Indiana, near Indianapolis. The Republic leadership team will lead the carrier with the new board of directors made up of six directors from Republic and one from Mesa.
The new Republic will be listed on Nasdaq under the "RJET" stock symbol; Mesa is currently listed on the stock exchange while Republic was delisted and went private in 2016.
Related reading:
TPG featured card
Rewards
| 2X miles | 2 miles per dollar on every purchase |
| 5X miles | 5 miles per dollar on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Business Travel |
| 10X miles | 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Business Travel |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
The Capital One Venture X Business Card has all the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has to offer and more. It offers an incredible welcome bonus and requires an equally impressive spend to qualify. In addition, the card comes with premium travel perks like annual travel credit. (Partner offer)Pros
- The Capital One Venture X business card has a very lucrative welcome offer.
- In addition, the card comes with many premium travel perks such as an annual $300 credit for bookings through Capital One Business Travel.
- Business owners are also able to add employee cards for free.
Cons
- The card requires significant spending to earn the welcome offer.
- Another drawback is that the annual travel credit can only be used on bookings made through Capital One Business Travel.
- LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Earn up to 400K bonus miles: 200K miles when you spend $30K in the first 3 months, and an additional 200k miles when you spend $150k in the first 6 months
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, everywhere—with no limits or category restrictions
- Earn 10X miles on hotels and rental cars and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Business Travel
- With no preset spending limit, enjoy big purchasing power that adapts so you can spend more and earn more rewards
- Empower your teams to make business purchases while earning rewards on their transactions, with free employee and virtual cards. Plus, automatically sync your transaction data with your accounting software and pay your vendors with ease
- Redeem your miles on flights, hotels and more. Plus, transfer your miles to any of the 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Every year, you'll get 10,000 bonus miles after your account anniversary date. Plus, receive an annual $300 credit for bookings made through Capital One Business Travel
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®. Enjoy access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge locations and Priority Pass™ lounges, after enrollment
- Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
- This is a pay-in-full card, so your balance is due in full every month
Rewards Rate
| 2X miles | 2 miles per dollar on every purchase |
| 5X miles | 5 miles per dollar on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Business Travel |
| 10X miles | 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Business Travel |
Intro Offer
Earn 200K miles when you spend $30K in the first 3 months, and an additional 200K miles when you spend $150K in the first 6 monthsLIMITED-TIME OFFER: Earn up to 400K bonus milesAnnual Fee
$395Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.740-850Excellent
Why We Chose It
The Capital One Venture X Business Card has all the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has to offer and more. It offers an incredible welcome bonus and requires an equally impressive spend to qualify. In addition, the card comes with premium travel perks like annual travel credit. (Partner offer)Pros
- The Capital One Venture X business card has a very lucrative welcome offer.
- In addition, the card comes with many premium travel perks such as an annual $300 credit for bookings through Capital One Business Travel.
- Business owners are also able to add employee cards for free.
Cons
- The card requires significant spending to earn the welcome offer.
- Another drawback is that the annual travel credit can only be used on bookings made through Capital One Business Travel.
- LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Earn up to 400K bonus miles: 200K miles when you spend $30K in the first 3 months, and an additional 200k miles when you spend $150k in the first 6 months
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, everywhere—with no limits or category restrictions
- Earn 10X miles on hotels and rental cars and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Business Travel
- With no preset spending limit, enjoy big purchasing power that adapts so you can spend more and earn more rewards
- Empower your teams to make business purchases while earning rewards on their transactions, with free employee and virtual cards. Plus, automatically sync your transaction data with your accounting software and pay your vendors with ease
- Redeem your miles on flights, hotels and more. Plus, transfer your miles to any of the 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Every year, you'll get 10,000 bonus miles after your account anniversary date. Plus, receive an annual $300 credit for bookings made through Capital One Business Travel
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®. Enjoy access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge locations and Priority Pass™ lounges, after enrollment
- Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
- This is a pay-in-full card, so your balance is due in full every month