Mesa Air Group, parent company of regional carrier Mesa Airlines, will sell 18 Bombardier CRJ700 aircraft to United Airlines for “approximately $50 million”.
In a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on 5 October, the Phoenix-based airline said the transaction was signed on 27 September.
“Each aircraft will be delivered as is” and with a ”related lease agreement”, Mesa writes.
The SEC filing does not specify when Mesa expects to complete the sale, though it says purchase prices could be reduced if the sales extend beyond the end of 2023. Mesa did not immediately respond to a request for more information.
According to Cirium fleet data, the aircraft are owned by Mesa but operated by regional carrier GoJet Airlines, and have an average age of 19 years. Seven airframes are in service, and 11 in storage.
The deal comes weeks after one of United’s regional partners, Air Wisconsin Airlines, revealed plans to shift up to 60 50-seat CJR200s into American Airlines’ regional operation American Eagle. Air Wisconsin currently operates as United Express, but that agreement ends in the coming months.
American said it will take delivery of the Air Wisconsin jets between March and October 2023. Subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, Air Wisconsin could accelerate the implementation schedule, however.
