Phoenix-based Mesa Airlines (YV) has announced plans to start in new carrier in Europe in joint venture with Gramercy Associates Limited, whose managing director is former Tiger Airways and bmibaby CEO Tony Davis. YV hopes to get its new project off the ground by the end of the year.

The new airline would use a fleet of Canadair Regional Jet CRJ-900s. “We are very excited at the potential to expand our regional business overseas. As Mesa continues to diversify, we are looking forward to working with Gramercy on this new European venture” Jonathan Ornstein, Mesa’s Chairman and CEO commented. Gramercy’s MD, Tony Davis, added that his company is “looking forward to teaming up with Mesa to help bring the CPA and ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance and Insurance) models that have been so successful in the US to Europe”.

In the US, Mesa operates most of its flights on behalf of legacy carriers under the branding of their respective regional subsidiaries (the so-called ‘feeder flights). Currently, the Arizona carrier is operating mostly on behalf of American Eagle (from the latter Phoenix PHX, Dallas DFW and Louisville hubs) and United Express (out of its Houston IAH and Washington IAD hubs) and intends to replicate the same kind of business with its planned European carrier, operating regional feeder flights on behalf of the Old Continent’s one or more major airlines.

According to planespotters.net, YV currently has a fleet of 164 aircraft including 85 Bombardier CRJs (64 -900s, 20 -700s and 1 -200) and 76 Embraer ERJ-170s. (Photo header Wikimedia Commons)