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Organization and Operations | 3 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2021
Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements [Abstract] |
Organization and Operations |
1. | Organization and Operations
About Mesa Air Group, Inc. Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, Mesa Air Group, Inc. ("Mesa" or the "Company") is a holding company whose principal subsidiary, Mesa Airlines, Inc. ("Mesa Airlines"), operates as a regional air carrier providing scheduled flight service to 120 cities in 42 states, the District of Columbia, the Bahamas, and Mexico as well as cargo services out of Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. As of December 31, 2021, Mesa’s fleet consisted of 167 aircraft which were operated under the Company’s Capacity Purchase Agreements (“CPAs”) and Flight Services Agreement (“FSA”), leased to a third party, or maintained as operational spares, with approximately 457 daily departures and 2,999 employees. Mesa operates all of its flights as either American Eagle, United Express, or DHL Express flights pursuant to the terms of CPAs entered into with American Airlines, Inc. (“American”) and United Airlines, Inc. (“United”) and FSA with DHL Network Operations (USA), Inc (“DHL”). The capacity purchase agreements between us and our major partners involve a revenue-guarantee arrangement whereby the major partner pays fixed-fees for each aircraft under contract, departure, flight hour (measured from takeoff to landing, excluding taxi time) or block hour (measured from takeoff to landing, including taxi time), and reimbursement of certain direct operating expenses in exchange for providing flight services. The major partners also pay certain expenses directly to suppliers, such as fuel, ground operations, and landing fees. Under the terms of these capacity purchase agreements, the major partner controls route selection, pricing, and seat inventories, reducing our exposure to fluctuations in passenger traffic, fare levels, and fuel prices. Under our FSA with DHL, we receive a fee per block hour with a minimum block hour guarantee in exchange for providing cargo services. Ground support expenses including fueling and airport fees are paid directly by DHL. American Capacity Purchase Agreement As of December 31, 2021, we operated 40 CRJ-900 aircraft under the American Capacity Purchase Agreement (the “American CPA”). In exchange for providing passenger flight services, we receive a fixed monthly minimum amount per aircraft under contract plus certain additional amounts based upon the number of flights and block hours flown during each month. In addition, we may also receive incentives or incur penalties based upon our operational performance, including controllable on-time departure (“CD0”) and controllable flight completion (“CCF”) percentages. American also reimburses us for certain costs on an actual basis, including passenger liability and hull insurance and aircraft property taxes. Other expenses, including fuel and certain landing fees, are directly paid to suppliers by American. In addition, American also provides, at no cost to us, certain ground handling and customer service functions, as well as airport-related facilities and gates at American hubs and cities where we operate. The American CPA covers 40 CRJ-900 aircraft for a five-year term expiring on December 31, 2025. Our American CPA is subject to termination prior to its expiration in various circumstances including:
| ▪ | If either American or we become insolvent, file for bankruptcy, or fail to pay the debts as they become due, the non-defaulting party may terminate the agreement;
| ▪ | If either we or American fail to perform the covenants, conditions or provisions of the American CPA, subject to certain notice and cure rights, the non-defaulting party may terminate the agreement;
| ▪ | If, at any time during the term of the American CPA, the number of covered aircraft is less than twenty (20);
| ▪ | If we are required by the FAA or the DOT to suspend operations and we have not resumed operations within three business days, except as a result of an emergency airworthiness directive from the FAA affecting all similarly equipped aircraft;
| ▪ | If our CCF or CD0 fall below certain levels for a specified period of time;
| ▪ | Upon the occurrence of a force majeure event (as defined in the American CPA) that lasts for a specified period of consecutive days and affects our ability to operate scheduled flights, including a future epidemic or pandemic;
| ▪ | If a labor dispute affects our ability to operate over a specified number of days or we operate in violation of any existing American collective bargaining agreement; or
| ▪ | Upon a change in our ownership or control without the written approval of American.
Under the American CPA, American has the option in its sole discretion to withdraw up to: (i) 10 aircraft during calendar year 2021, (ii) five aircraft during each of calendar years 2022 and 2023, and (iii) during the period from January 1, 2024 to July 31, 2024, American can remove the first 20 aircraft to the extent not otherwise removed in 2021 – 2023, and thereafter American has the right to remove the remaining 20 aircraft. American also has the right and option to withdraw a specified number of aircraft upon each occurrence of the following:
| ▪ | If our CCF falls below certain levels for a specified period of time, American may withdraw one aircraft;
| ▪ | If our CD0 falls below certain levels for a specified period of time, American may withdraw one aircraft;
| ▪ | If we fail to satisfactorily complete established cabin interior program requirements by certain deadlines, American may withdraw one aircraft; or
| ▪ | If our block hour utilization falls below certain levels for a specified period of time, American may withdraw a specified number of aircraft.
United Capacity Purchase Agreement As of December 31, 2021, we operated 60 E-175 and 20 E-175LL aircraft under the United Capacity Purchase Agreement (the “United CPA”). In exchange for providing passenger flight services, we receive a fixed monthly minimum amount per aircraft under contract plus certain additional amounts based upon the number of flights and block hours flown and the results of passenger satisfaction surveys. United reimburses us for certain costs on an actual basis, including property tax per aircraft and passenger liability insurance. United also reimburses us on a pass-through basis for all costs related to heavy airframe and engine maintenance, landing gear, auxiliary power units ("APUs"), and component maintenance for the E-175 aircraft owned by United. Other expenses, including fuel and certain landing fees, are directly paid to suppliers by United. Under our United CPA, United owns 42 of the 60 E-175 aircraft and all of the E-175LL aircraft and leases them to us at nominal amounts. The E-175 aircraft owned by United and leased to us have terms expiring between 2024 and 2028, and the E-175 aircraft owned by us have terms expiring in 2028. The E-175LL aircraft have terms expiring between 2032 and 2033. Pursuant to the United CPA, we agreed to lease our CRJ-700 aircraft to another United Express service provider for a term of nine (9) years. We ceased operating our CRJ-700 fleet in February 2021 in connection with the transfer of those aircraft into a lease agreement, and as of December 31, 2021, had entered into agreements to lease 17 of our 20 CRJ-700 aircraft. Our United CPA is subject to termination rights prior to its expiration, including:
| ▪ | If certain operational performance factors fall below a specified percentage for a specified time, subject to notice under certain circumstances;
| ▪ | If we fail to perform the material covenants, agreements, terms or conditions of our United CPA or similar agreements with United, subject to thirty (30) days' notice and cure rights;
| ▪ | If either United or we become insolvent, file bankruptcy, or fail to pay debts when due, the non-defaulting party may terminate the agreement;
| ▪ | If we merge with, or if control of us is acquired by another air carrier or a corporation directly or indirectly owning or controlling another air carrier;
| ▪ | United, subject to certain conditions, including the payment of certain costs tied to aircraft type, may terminate the agreement in its discretion, or remove E-175 aircraft from service, by giving us notice of 90 days or more;
| ▪ | If United elects to terminate our United CPA in its entirety or permanently remove select aircraft from service, we are permitted to return any of the affected E-175 aircraft leased from United at no cost to us; and
| ▪ | Commencing five (5) years after the actual in-service date, United has the right to remove the E-175 aircraft from service by giving us notice of 90 days or more, subject to certain conditions, including the payment of certain wind-down expenses plus, if removed prior to the ten (10) year anniversary of the in-service date, certain accelerated margin payments.
DHL Flight Services Agreement On December 20, 2019, we entered into a Flight Services Agreement with DHL (the “DHL FSA”). Under the terms of the DHL FSA, we operate two (2) Boeing 737-400F aircraft to provide cargo air transportation services. In exchange for providing such services, we receive a fee per block hour with a minimum block hour guarantee. We are eligible for a monthly performance bonus or subject to a monthly penalty based on timeliness and completion performance. Ground support including fueling and airport fees are paid directly by DHL. Under our DHL FSA, DHL leases two Boeing 737-400F aircraft and subleases them to us at nominal amounts. DHL reimburses us on a pass-through basis for all costs related to heavy maintenance including C-checks, off-wing engine maintenance and overhauls including life limited parts (“LLPs”), landing gear overhauls and LLPs, thrust reverser overhauls, and APU overhauls and LLPs. Certain items such as fuel, de-icing fluids, landing fees, aircraft ground handling fees, en-route navigation fees, and custom fees are paid directly to suppliers by DHL or otherwise reimbursed if incurred by us. Our DHL FSA expires five (5) years from the commencement date of the first aircraft placed into service, which was in October 2020. DHL has the option to extend the agreement with respect to one or more aircraft for a period of one year with 90 days’ advance written notice. Our DHL FSA is subject to the following termination rights prior to its expiration:
| ▪ | If either party fails to comply with the obligations, warranties, representations, or undertakings under the DHL FSA, subject to certain notice and cure rights.
| ▪ | If either party is declared bankrupt or insolvent.
| ▪ | If we are unable to legally operate the aircraft under the DHL FSA for a specified number of days.
| ▪ | At any time after the first anniversary of the commencement date of the first aircraft placed in service with 90 days’ written notice.
| ▪ | If we fail to comply with performance standards for three consecutive measurement periods.
| ▪ | If we are subject to a labor incident that materially and adversely affects our ability to perform services under the DHL FSA for a specified number of days.
| ▪ | Upon a change in our control or ownership.
| ▪ | DHL may terminate the agreement for a specific aircraft if it is subject to a total loss and we do not provide alternate services at our expense, or if the aircraft becomes unavailable for more than 30 days due to unscheduled maintenance.

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