US Airways Group Inc. said Tuesday that it agreed to extend by more than three years a deal to use Mesa Air Group Inc. to operate some of its regional flights while reducing payments to Mesa.
Mesa, which is operating under bankruptcy protection, will fly for US Airways through September 2015 under what the companies called a nonbinding term sheet.
Mesa's contract to operate US Airways Express flights was due to expire June 12, 2012. It operates 38 CRJ900 regional jets for the bigger airline out of US Airways hubs in Phoenix and Charlotte, N.C.
US Airways said the agreement calls for a cut in the rates that US Airways pays Mesa, but it did not provide figures.
Before becoming final, the agreement must be approved by both companies' boards and the federal bankruptcy court handling Mesa's reorganization.
Mesa has 76 aircraft that make about 460 daily flights as US Airways Express, United Express and go! Mokulele service in Hawaii.
