Republic Airways is a regional airline headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, operating as a key player in the U.S. regional aviation market. It provides fixed-fee flights under major airline partner brands, including American Eagle, Delta Connection, and United Express. The airline operates a fleet of approximately 200 Embraer E170/E175 aircraft, offering over 900 daily flights to more than 80 cities across the U.S., Canada, the Caribbean, and Central America. Republic Airways employs over 6,000 aviation professionals and maintains operational bases in cities such as Boston (BOS), Chicago (ORD), Columbus (CMH), Indianapolis (IND), Louisville (SDF), Newark (EWR), New York (LGA), Philadelphia (PHL), Pittsburgh (PIT), and Washington, D.C. (DCA). Its mission is to provide a safe, clean, and reliable flying experience, with a vision to be “America’s Regional Airline of Choice” through exceptional people, products, and performance. Republic also operates LIFT Academy, a flight training school, and is part of Republic Airways Holdings, Inc.
Brief HistoryRepublic Airways traces its origins to Chautauqua Airlines, founded in 1973 in Jamestown, New York, by Joel and Gloria Hall. Initially a small feeder airline, Chautauqua grew through code-share agreements with major carriers like Allegheny Airlines (later US Airways). In 1988, it was acquired by an affiliate of Guarantee Security Life Insurance Company, but in 1991, the Florida Department of Insurance took over due to the insurer’s insolvency. By 1994, Chautauqua moved its headquarters to Indianapolis and swapped routes with Jetstream International. In 1998, Wexford Management purchased the airline, and Republic Airways Holdings was formed, capitalizing on the “Republic” name for brand recognition, despite no historical ties to the original Republic Airlines of the 1980s.
In 1999, Republic Airways Holdings created a subsidiary, Republic Airline, Inc., which remained inactive until 2004. It was activated in response to a pilots’ lawsuit against American Airlines, as Chautauqua’s operation of 70-seat jets for United Airlines violated American’s pilot union scope clause. Republic Airline received Part 121 certification in 2005, enabling commercial service. The company went public in 2004 under the NASDAQ ticker RJET.
Republic expanded through acquisitions, including 89% of Mokulele Airlines and Midwest Airlines in 2009, and Frontier Airlines in 2010, which it later sold to Indigo Partners in 2013. In 2016, Republic faced financial strain, filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy due to pilot shortages and grounded aircraft. It emerged in April 2017 after merging its subsidiaries, Shuttle America and Republic Airways, into a single entity under the Republic Airways name, operating the world’s largest fleet of Embraer E170/E175 aircraft.
On April 7, 2025, Republic Airways Holdings announced an all-stock merger with Mesa Air Group, expected to close in late 2025, creating a combined company with about 310 Embraer E170/E175 aircraft and over 1,250 daily departures. The merged entity will operate under the Republic Airways Holdings name, aiming to enhance scale, financial stability, and operational efficiency.
Note: The modern Republic Airways is distinct from the historical Republic Airlines (1979–1986), formed by the merger of North Central Airlines and Southern Airways, which was acquired by Northwest Airlines in 1986.
