Republic edges towards bankruptcy exit as judge settles ERJ feud

A US judge has settled a bankruptcy dispute between Republic Airways Holdings and aircraft lessor Residco, a move that brings Republic one step closer to exiting bankruptcy protection. The decision, which related to 7 formerly leased Embraer ERJ-145s, also exposes the degree to which small regional jet values have declined in recent years. Judge Sean Lane of the US Bankruptcy Court of the Southern District of New York upheld Republic's bankruptcy reorganisation plan against an objection by Residco, a company composed of Wells Fargo Bank Northwest and ALF VI. Though the move brings Republic closer to exiting bankruptcy protection, the company has not updated a timeline. Republic, which filed for bankruptcy protection in Feb 2016, had said it planned to exit bankruptcy in Q1 of 2017. <br/>