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Republic Airways is the second-largest regional airline in the United States following its November 2025 merger with Mesa Air Group, operating approximately 311 Embraer E170/E175 aircraft across 10 domiciles under codeshare agreements with United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and American Airlines. It is headquartered in Carmel, Indiana, and employs approximately 2,000+ active pilots represented by IBT Teamsters. David Grizzle became CEO in July 2025, succeeding longtime leader Bryan Bedford.
For interview purposes, the simplest way to frame Republic is this: it is the largest all-Embraer regional airline in the world, now combined with Mesa to form a powerhouse regional carrier flying for all three "Big Three" U.S. airlines. Republic offers a competitive first-year package (~$93,000+), 10 domiciles concentrated in the Midwest and East Coast, industry-leading work rules (1:2 duty rig, no junior manning), and a strong IBT Teamsters contract. The Mesa merger added 60 E175 aircraft and a new multi-year United Airlines agreement, driving Republic toward $2 billion in revenue by 2026.
Republic is also notable for its history — it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2016 due to pilot shortages and emerged in 2017. Its recovery and subsequent growth to become the second-largest regional is one of the industry's strongest turnaround stories.
Sources listed at the end of each profile. Data compiled from public filings, airline newsrooms, AirlinePilotCentral, Glassdoor, FAA records, and industry publications.