US regional Republic exits Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection

Republic Airways Holdings has emerged from Chapter 11 restructuring, effective April 30. Republic said it will be closely held by certain unsecured creditors as outlined in its court-approved plan of reorganisation. The company entered Chapter 11 in Feb 2016, saying it was the only way it could renegotiate contracts with major US airlines for which it operates regional flights. The renegotiations were necessary in part because of a “nationwide pilot shortage,” president and CE Bryan Bedford said. As of March 31, Republic operated a fleet of 170 Embraer E170/E175 dual-class aircraft and expects to expand its fleet by more than 10% by the end of the year with the delivery of 18 additional E-Jet aircraft. “We have streamlined the airline around a single fleet of E-Jets and a single operating certificate,” Bedford said. <br/>