The spring of 1994, Mesa Airlines is reorganized into Mesa Air Group, with five operating divisions, including this new unit. MWA-4 is made up from Albuquerque-based Mesa Airlines, with 8 Beech 1900s, Phoenix and Columbus-hubbed “America West Express,” with 16 Beech 1900s and 3 Embraer EMB-120 Brasilias, and Los Angeles-based Westair Commuter Airlines, doing business as “United Express,” with 27 Beech 1900s, 9 Brasilias, and 6 de Havilland Canada DHC-8s. MAG Vice President Michael Lewis is placed in charge of MWA-4.
Operations continue apace over previously flown routes and orders are placed for the DHC-8Q-400, for which the company is launch customer. Enplanements for the year total 3,011,729.
Airline employment stands at 1,390 in 1995. A new code-sharing “United Express” agreement negotiated with United Airlines the previous October comes into effect during the first quarter, covering the next decade. Also as part of the deal, 12 MAG DHC-8-300s are traded for 25 smaller, hot-and-high DHC-8-200s better suited to the thinner Colorado air. A $226- million order is placed for the turboprops with deliveries scheduled to start the following February.
During the year, the America West 10-year code-sharing contract is also renegotiated. The route network grows to 73 U. S. cities served from hubs at Albuquerque, Columbus, Denver, Los Angeles, and Phoenix. Traffic figures are incorporated with those from MAG.
Painted in “United Express” livery, the first DHC-8-200 arrives at the company’s Denver base in February 1996. The hot-and-high aircraft is placed into service throughout the company’s Rocky Mountain network.
MWA-4’s resources are significantly strained during the spring and summer by delays in delivery of additional Dash 8-200s, the resignation of 38 pilots, and the loss of Essential Air Service (EAS) funding.
During July, the carrier terminates Beech 1900C services between Denver and the Kansas communities of Lamar and Goodlands. In addition, daily flights between Denver and Fort Collins are cut from eight to five; from Denver to Pueblo from five to three; and from Denver to Alamosa from three to two.
By the end of the year, MWA-4 is the largest MAG division. Officials report, independently of the parent, that the section has transported a total of 4,134,872 passengers during the year, a 24.5% increase.
During the first week of January 1997, MAG is again reorganized. The operating divisions Desert Sun, Florida Gulf, Liberty Express, and Mountain West are replaced by four new units: “America West Express,” “Independent,” “United Express,” and “USAirways Express.” Also merged into the new divisions are the marketing and customer service departments of Air Midwest and WestAir Commuter Airlines. Mountain West will continue as the “United Express” unit.
World History
