PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mesa Airlines, Inc. today announced that Paul Foley, longtime industry executive and the Company’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer since 2008, will leave the airline to return to Boston and serve as CEO of Rectrix Aviation, Inc., a division of Rectrix Commercial Aviation Services.
Since Paul’s arrival at Mesa, the Company led DOT Air Travel Consumer Report scores for three consecutive years, achieved five consecutive FAA Employer Maintenance Diamond Awards of Excellence, more than doubled its fleet from 57 large regional jets to 133 this year, and extended its contracts with code share partners American and United.
“Paul has done an outstanding job overseeing the operation during these years of growth at Mesa. As a former CEO himself, Paul fully embraced the challenge,” said Chairman and CEO Jonathan Ornstein. “While I’m sorry to see my close friend go, we wish him the best and thank him for his important role at Mesa Airlines. Fortunately for Mesa, Paul has built a great team, well positioned with both veteran operations management and key new hires in place to continue this success.”
“I will be forever grateful to Mesa for the opportunity to work with extraordinary people and to live in sunny Arizona near family the last seven years,” said Foley. “The chance for us to go home to Boston to spend more time with family was an offer we couldn’t refuse. I look forward to watching Mesa’s continued growth and success.”
About Mesa Airlines
A multiple-time recipient of Air Transport World’s Regional Airline of the Year Award and ranked No. 1 Regional Airline three consecutive years by the DOT Air Travel Consumer Report, Phoenix-based Mesa Airlines operates as American Eagle from hubs in Phoenix and Dallas/Fort Worth and as United Express from Washington Dulles and Houston. Founded on a mesa in New Mexico in 1982 by Larry and Janie Risley, Mesa currently operates 119 aircraft, with more than 565 daily system departures to 99 cities, 36 states, the District of Columbia, Canada and Mexico. The company has approximately 2,800 employees and plans to hire an additional 1,000 in the next two years. For more information, go to www.mesa-air.com or visit us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mesaairlines.
