Republic Airways will acquire 10 regional jets from US Airways and has formed a joint venture with Mesa Air Group to operate flights in Hawaii.
The moves announced late Tuesday and Wednesday are part of Republic’s network rebuilding efforts.
Republic, headquartered in Indianapolis, bought Frontier Airlines when it emerged from bankruptcy Oct. 1 and Midwest Airlines on July 31.
Four of the 99-seat Embraer 190AR jets will enter service in November and December and will replace Boeing 717 aircraft being removed from Midwest’s service. The other six will be in service next year.
“We’re looking at restoring the service Midwest lost in the last two years,” said Republic spokesman Carlo Bertolini.
Republic will apply the balance of an existing $35 million loan from US Airways toward buying the aircraft and assume the airplanes’ remaining debt.
Republic also will combine its Hawaiian flights with those of Mesa Airlines, which will take over the routes.
The agreement will allow Republic to return three Embraer E170 jets flown by its subsidiary, Mokulele Airlines, to the mainland by November.
Mokulele shareholders will give their ownership of Mokulele to the joint agreement and will own 25 percent of the new venture.
Mokulele shareholders will be required to fund up to $1.5 million to capitalize the agreement. Republic also will forgive $3.1 million of Mokulele’s outstanding debt to Republic.
Ann Schrader: 303-954-1967 or aschrader@denverpost.com
