The nation's regional airlines are having trouble hiring enough pilots, the government says, suggesting one reason may be that they simply don’t pay enough. The average starting salary for co-pilots at regional airlines is $22,400 a year.
Indianapolis-based Republic said full-year profit fell from $51.3 million in 2012 to $26.7 million in 2013 after a loss from discontinued operations of $21.6 million.
Republic Airways Holdings Inc. on Friday announced that it has reached a tentative agreement on a contract with the union that represents more than 2,200 of it pilots.
The relentless snow and ice storms this winter have led to the highest number of flight cancellations in more than 25 years, according to an analysis by The Associated Press.
Indianapolis-based Republic Airways Holdings plans to stop flying 27 of its 41 Embraer 50-seat jets because of the pilot shortage. That decision will lower income as much as $22 million this year.
Airport spokesman Carlo Bertolini said about 100 arriving and departing flights were canceled in Indianapolis on Sunday because of the weather.
On-time statistics for such carriers as United, American and Delta don’t include tardy flights by their regional partners, such as Indianapolis-based Republic Airways.
Republic said selling Frontier for $36 million plus assumed debt will let it refocus on running feeder airlines for major carriers such as Delta and United.
Indianapolis International Airport will have the first enrollment site for an expedited screening program that allows airline passengers to leave on their shoes, light outerwear and belts, and keep laptop computers in cases at security checkpoints.
Indianapolis International Airport has lost a third of its passenger flights since early 2005 while inflation-adjusted airfares here have risen 23 percent.
Rules against making cellphone calls during airline flights are "outdated," and it's time to change them, federal regulators said Thursday, drawing immediate howls of protest from flight attendants, airline officials and others.
Republic Airways Holdings Inc. on Wednesday said it was going forward with the $145 million sale of Frontier Airlines. It also announced a third-quarter loss of $13.8 million.
Frontier Airlines announced Wednesday that it is expanding operations at the New Castle Airport in Delaware with flights to Detroit and Atlanta.
Buyer Indigo Partners says it first needs agreements with the union for Frontier flight attendants, and with credit card issuer Barclays.
Phoenix-based Indigo Partners has until Monday to tell Frontier parent Indianapolis-based Republic Airways Holdings whether it wants to terminate the $145 million deal.
A proposed membership-based airline that had hoped for a 2013 launch has signed up lots of members but has yet to pull in the big investors it needs to put its own plane in the sky.
Indigo Partners LLC, led by veteran airline executive William Franke, has agreed to buy Frontier Airlines from Indianapolis-based Republic Airways Holdings Inc. for $36 million in cash. The total value of the transaction is $145 million including debt.
The Indianapolis-based regional carrier plans to tie up negotiations with a prospective buyer, believed to be headed by former Spirit Airlines Inc. Chairman Bill Franke.
The nonstop connection to Silicon Valley that Indianapolis’ tech community has been clamoring for is here, but a leading advocate for the service said it doesn’t meet his industry’s needs.
Gov. Mike Pence and executives from United Airlines on Wednesday formally announced that Indianapolis will receive nonstop daily service to San Francisco starting in January. IBJ first reported plans for the service last week.
