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Organization and Operations
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]  
Organization and Operations
1.
Organization and Operations

The Company

Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, Mesa Air Group, Inc. ("Mesa," the "Company," "we," "our," or "us") is the holding company of Mesa Airlines, a regional air carrier providing scheduled passenger service to 67 cities in 34 states, Cuba, and Mexico. As of September 30, 2024, Mesa operated a fleet of 67 regional aircraft consisting of 55 E-175 aircraft and 12 CRJ-900 aircraft with approximately 265 daily departures. Mesa’s fleet were conducted under our CPA and FSA, leased to a third party, held for sale or maintained as operational spares during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2024. Mesa operates all of its flights as United Express flights pursuant to the terms of the CPA entered into with United. Prior to the voluntary wind-down of the FSA with DHL on March 1, 2024, Mesa also operated flights as DHL Express flights pursuant to the terms of the FSA. All of the Company’s consolidated contract revenues for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 were derived from operations associated with the United CPA, DHL FSA, leases of aircraft to a third party, and Mesa Pilot Development ("MPD"). The Company also generated contract revenues for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023 from the Company's CPA with American prior to the wind-down and termination of the American CPA on April 3, 2023.

 

The United CPA involves a revenue-guarantee arrangement whereby United 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. United also pays certain expenses directly to suppliers, such as fuel, ground operations and landing fees. Under the terms of the CPA, United controls route selection, pricing, and seat inventories, reducing our exposure to fluctuations in passenger traffic, fare levels, and fuel prices.

Liquidity and Going Concern

During our fiscal year ended September 30, 2024, the decrease in scheduled flying activity associated with the transition of our operations with American to United, increased costs associated with pilot wages, together with increasing interest rates adversely impacted our financial results, cash flows, financial position, and other key financial ratios. Additionally, United has asked us to accelerate the removal of our CRJ-900 aircraft and transition the pilots to our E-175 fleet. These events will lead to increased costs and impact our block hour capabilities while these pilots are in training.

As a result of the decrease in scheduled flying activity for United, we produced less block hours to generate revenues. During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2024, these challenges resulted in a negative impact on the Company’s financial results highlighted by net loss of $91.0 million, primarily due to impairment expense of $73.7 million related to held for sale assets during the year. These conditions and events raised concerns about our ability to continue to fund our operations and meet our debt obligations over the next twelve months from the filing of this Form 10-K.

To address such concerns, management developed and implemented certain material changes to our business designed to ensure the Company could continue to fund its operations and meet its debt obligations over the next twelve months. The following measures were implemented during the year ended September 30, 2024, and through the date of issuance of the financial statements.

On April 4, 2025, the Company entered into the Three Party Agreement between United, Republic, and the Company, which provides for, among other things, the following, each subject to the completion of the Merger Agreement:
o
Termination of the United CPA.
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The Company to sell or dispose of all remaining Eligible Assets (as defined in the Three Party Agreement).
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The Company to extinguish all remaining debt with cash and sale of assets. Any remaining debt will be assumed by the surviving corporation or forgiven by United.
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A three percent (3%) increase in CPA block hour rates, retroactive to January 1, 2025.
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The transfer of all of the Company's rights and obligations under its agreements with Archer (as discussed in Note 17).
On April 4, 2025, we entered into the Sixth Amendment to the Third Amended and Restated Capacity Purchase Agreement with United which provides for the following:
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The extension of the CPA rate increases agreed upon in the January 2024 United CPA Amendments, retroactive to January 1, 2025, through March 31, 2026.
o
The extension of incentives for achieving certain performance metrics, retroactive to July 1, 2024, through March 31, 2026.
On April 4, 2025, we entered into the Sixth Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Credit and Guaranty Agreement providing for the waiver of an existing financial covenant default with respect to the period ended March 31, 2025, and a projected financial covenant default with respect to the periods ending June 30, 2025, September 30, 2025, December 31, 2025, and March 31, 2026, each relating to a minimum liquidity requirement under our United Revolving Credit Facility.
On April 3, 2025, we entered into a purchase agreement with a third party which provides for the sale of 23 GE model CF34-8C engines to the third party for expected gross proceeds of $16.3 million, which will be used to pay down our UST Loan.
On December 31, 2024, we entered into an Aircraft Purchase Agreement with United which provides for the sale of 18 E-175 aircraft to United for gross proceeds of $227.7 million and net proceeds of $84.7 million after the retirement of debt. Subsequently, we closed the sale of all 18 aircraft to United.
On December 30, 2024, we received notice from United that $4.5 million of our Effective Date Revolving Loan balance under our United Revolving Credit Facility has been forgiven for achieving certain operational performance metrics outlined in the United CPA.
On December 24, 2024, we entered into a purchase agreement with a third party which provides for the sale of 15 CRJ-900 airframes to the third party for expected gross proceeds of $19.0 million, which will be used to pay down our UST Loan. On April 3, 2025, the purchase agreement was amended to include an additional 14 CRJ-900 airframes to be sold to the third party for expected gross proceeds of $9.1 million. The total expected gross proceeds of $28.1 million will be used to pay down our UST Loan.
On December 23, 2024, we entered into an agreement with the UST to lower the minimum CCR covenant to .99 to 1.0 effective as of November 22, 2024 through February 28, 2025. After such date, the CCR will revert to 1.55 to 1.0. The agreement also requires the Company to use its reasonable best efforts to cause counterparties to all Receivables (as defined in the Treasury Loan) (whether or not constituting “Eligible Receivables” (as defined in the Treasury Loan)) of the Company to be paid to the Eligible Receivables Account (as defined in the Treasury Loan). Receivables generated from the sale of assets that are not Collateral (as defined in the Treasury Loan) are excluded from the scope of the foregoing requirement. As a result of the lower CCR covenant, we are in compliance with this covenant as of September 30, 2024. Additionally, on March 18, 2025, we entered into a new CCR Modification Agreement with the UST to lower the minimum CCR covenant to .91 to 1.0 effective as of February 28, 2025 through the maturity date of the loan.
On December 23, 2024, we entered into a Waiver to Second Amended and Restated Credit and Guaranty Agreement providing for the waiver of an existing financial covenant default with respect to the period July 1, 2024 to December 23, 2024 and a projected financial covenant default with respect to the period December 24, 2024 to December 31, 2024, each relating to a minimum liquidity requirement under our United Revolving Credit Facility.
On December 23, 2024, we entered into the Fourth Amendment to our Third Amended and Restated United CPA which provides for the following:
o
Amended certain scheduled exit dates for our E-175 and CRJ-900 Covered Aircraft (as defined in the United CPA).
o
Added provisions relating to the reimbursement by United of up to $14.0 million of pilot training costs incurred by the Company with respect to its E-175 aircraft.
On September 25, 2024, we reached an agreement with United which provides for, among other things, the commitment to buy our two CRJ-700 aircraft out of their lease with GoJet and to purchase such aircraft for total proceeds of $11.0 million, $4.5 million of which will pay down the outstanding obligations. Subsequent to September 30, 2024, we closed the sale of the two CRJ-700 aircraft to United.
Based on the most recent appraisal value of our spare parts, we have $12.4 million of borrowing capacity under our United Revolving Credit Facility.
In addition to already executed agreements to sell aircraft, the Company is actively seeking arrangements to sell other surplus assets primarily related to the CRJ fleet including aircraft, engines, and spare parts to reduce debt and optimize operations.
We have delayed and/or deferred major spending on aircraft and engine maintenance to match the current and projected level of flight activity.

 

The Company believes the plans and initiatives outlined above have effectively alleviated the financial concerns and will allow the Company to meet its cash obligations for the next twelve months following the issuance of its financial statements. The forecast of undiscounted cash flows prepared to determine if the Company has the ability to meet its cash obligations over the next twelve months was prepared with significant judgment and estimates of future cash flows based on projections of CPA block hours, maintenance events, labor costs, and other relevant factors. Assumptions used in the forecast may change or not occur as expected.

As of July 16, 2024, the Company was not in compliance with a financial covenant related to a minimum liquidity requirement of $15.0 million of cash and cash equivalents associated with its Second Amended and Restated Credit and Guaranty Agreement with United. On December 23, 2024, the Company entered into a Waiver to Second Amended and Restated Credit and Guaranty Agreement providing for the waiver for the financial covenant default with respect to the period July 1, 2024 to December 23, 2024 and a projected financial covenant default with respect to the period December 24, 2024 to December 31, 2024. Further, on April 4, 2025, the Company entered into the Sixth Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Credit and Guaranty Agreement providing for the waiver of an existing financial covenant default with respect to the period ended March 31, 2025, and a projected financial covenant default with respect to the periods ending June 30, 2025, September 30, 2025, December 31, 2025, and March 31, 2026. As of the issuance of this Form 10-K, we are in compliance with all financial covenants.

As of September 30, 2024, the Company had $50.5 million of principal maturity payments on long-term debt due within the next twelve months. Additionally, all outstanding principal amounts of $113.7 million as of September 30, 2024, under our UST Loan are due and payable in a single installment on October 30, 2025. We plan to meet these obligations with our cash on hand, ongoing cashflows from our operations, and the liquidity created from the additional measures identified above. If our plans are not realized, we intend to explore additional opportunities to create liquidity by refinancing and deferring repayment of our principal maturity payments that are due within the next twelve months. The Company

continues to monitor covenant compliance with its lenders as any noncompliance could have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, cash flows and results of operations. As of September 30, 2024, the Company is in compliance with all financial covenants. See Sources and Uses of Cash in “Part II. Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” for additional disclosure.

United Capacity Purchase Agreement

Under the United CPA, we currently have the ability to fly up to 67 aircraft for United. During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2024, United began exercising its right under Section 2.4(a) of the United CPA to remove CRJ-900 Covered Aircraft (as defined in the United CPA). 14 CRJ-900 aircraft were removed from the CPA, and the remaining 12 will be removed from the CPA by the end of February 2025. As of September 30, 2024 we operated 55 E-175 and 12 CRJ-900 aircraft under our United CPA. Under the United CPA, United owns 42 of our 60 E-175 aircraft. The E-175 aircraft owned by United and leased to us have terms expiring between 2024 and 2028, and the 18 E-175 aircraft owned by us have terms expiring in 2028.

In exchange for providing flight services under our United CPA, 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 certain performance metrics. United also reimburses us for certain costs on an actual basis, including property tax per aircraft and passenger liability insurance. Other expenses, including fuel and certain landing fees, are directly paid to suppliers by United.

United reimburses us on a pass-through basis for certain costs related to heavy airframe and engine maintenance, landing gear, auxiliary power units ("APUs") and component maintenance for the aircraft owned by United. Our United CPA permits United, subject to certain conditions, including the payment of certain costs tied to aircraft type, to terminate the agreement in its discretion, or remove 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 aircraft leased from United at no cost to us. In addition, if United removes any of our 18 owned E-175 aircraft from service at its direction, United would remain obligated, at our option, to assume the aircraft ownership and associated debt with respect to such aircraft through the end of the term of the United CPA.

Subsequent to September 30, 2024, we amended our United CPA, providing for the following:

The extension of the CPA rate increases agreed upon in the January 2024 United CPA Amendments through March 31, 2026.
The extension of incentives for achieving certain performance metrics through March 2026.
The commitment of a combined fleet of 60 CRJ-900 and E-175 aircraft through February 2025, and an entirely E-175 fleet by March 2025.
Reimbursement of up to $14.0 million of expenses related to the transition to an entirely E-175 fleet.
Amendment of certain scheduled exit dates for our E-175 and CRJ-900 Covered Aircraft (as defined in the United CPA).

On January 11, 2024 and January 19, 2024, we entered into the January 2024 United CPA Amendments which provide for the following:

Increased CPA rates, retroactive to October 1, 2023 through December 31, 2024.
Amended certain notice requirements for removal by United of up to eight CRJ-900 Covered Aircraft (as defined in the United CPA) from the United CPA.
Extended United's existing utilization waiver for the Company's operation of E-175 and CRJ-900 Covered Aircraft (as defined in the United CPA) to June 30, 2024.

Our United CPA is subject to early termination prior to its expiration in various circumstances 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 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; and
If United elects to terminate our United CPA in its entirety or permanently remove aircraft from service, we are permitted to return any of the affected E-175 aircraft leased from United at no cost to us.

DHL Flight Services Agreement

On December 20, 2019, we entered into a FSA with DHL (the “DHL FSA”). Under the terms of the DHL FSA, we operated four Boeing 737 aircraft to provide cargo air transportation services. In exchange for providing cargo flight services, we received a fee per block hour with a minimum block hour guarantee. We were eligible for a monthly performance bonus or subject to a monthly penalty based on timeliness and completion performance. Ground support expenses including fueling and airport fees were paid directly by DHL. On March 15, 2024, we entered into Amendment No. 3 to our DHL FSA which provided for the wind-down and termination of our flight operations on behalf of DHL. As part of this Amendment, we received $1.0 million for wind-down and associated costs.