Phoenix-based Mesa Air Group and UK aviation consultancy Gramercy Associates have agreed to form a joint venture to launch a passenger and cargo operation in Europe, Mesa said in a statement Tuesday. The companies plan to apply for an air operator certificate (AOC) in the European Union using Bombardier CRJ900 regional jets to establish a capacity purchase agreement or ACMI (aircraft, crew, maintenance, and insurance) operation by the end of this year.
Under the agreement, Mesa would own 49 percent of the partnership once the companies gain the needed AOC.
Gramercy Associates is led by former Tiger Airways and Bmibaby CEO Tony Davis.
Mesa’s previous effort to expand internationally ended in 2009, when it sold its 49 percent stake in China’s Kunpeng Airlines to joint venture partner Shenzhen Airlines, less than two years after announcing plans to launch the operation with CRJ200s.