The US airline Mesa Airlines had to record a drop in revenue of 2022 percent to USD 23 million in the first three quarters of the current 11,2/326,6 financial year. It's deep in the red at $91,8 million. This also affects the expansion plans in Europe.
For many years, Mesa Airlines has acted as a wet lease provider for American Airlines and other carriers that have merged into the Oneworld member. It was a stable business, but not a flying money printing machine either. In any case, the regional airline could live well. The cooperation has now been canceled by American Airlines.
This was a heavy blow, because the majority of the fleet was in use for the aforementioned carrier. Although you could shortly thereafter conclude a comparable contract with United Airlines, but this one has a crucial catch. The Star Alliance member has booked significantly fewer flight services. As a result, Mesa has significantly more aircraft in its fleet than is required for the provision of ACMI services and for its own charter flights.
About a year ago things looked very different because Mesa wanted to even stir up the European ACMI market. Together with a partner, the Flite branch was founded in Malta. The Liliair project, which has come to nothing, was presented as the first customer. But neither Flite nor Liliair have taken off. Mesa simply has other concerns at the moment than pushing ahead with a cost-intensive project in Europe. Not surprising: Flite has not yet been officially put on hold, but the pace has slowed down massively. So far, AOC and operating license, expected to be issued in February/March 2023, have not yet been obtained.
In the US, they now want to reduce the Bombardier CRJ-900 fleet. Behind this is the simple fact that there is currently no employment for those machines that can neither be used for United Airlines nor for their own charter flights. As part of the announcement of the disastrous financial figures, the company announced that it had signed purchase agreements for the sale of 18 of these regional jets. Four units are to leave the fleet this year and 14 units at the beginning of 2024. But it will not stay that way, because Mesa Airlines also announced that negotiations are being held with potential buyers of other machines. A specific number was not mentioned.