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Why Mesa Air's better-than-expected pilot supply is actually bad news

The company has announced furloughs and training deferrals because of their pilot retention
Mesa Air
Posted at 8:37 AM, Jul 05, 2024

PHOENIX — Mesa Air Group, the Phoenix-based company that operates regional commercial carrier Mesa Airlines, has been able to hire and retain pilots better than expected.

As a result, the airline announced July 2 it would be implementing a pilot furlough.

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On July 12, Mesa Air (Nasdaq: MESA) will furlough 12 pilots and implement training deferrals for 41 pilot trainees, the company announced. The furloughs and deferrals are expected to save Mesa around $750,000 per month in operating expenses.

The excess of pilots for Mesa Air is a dramatic shift from just a few years ago when the company struggled to hire and retain enough pilots because they were being hired away quickly by major carriers like United Airlines or American Airlines.

Read more of this story from the Business Journal.