Republic Airways To Buy 10 Planes From US Airways

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Republic Airways Holdings Inc. said Wednesday it will buy 10 regional jets from US Airways and add them to the fleet over the next nine months.

Republic spokesman Carlo Bertolini said US Airways is using the planes to repay the $35 million it borrowed from Republic last year, plus interest. Republic will also assume the remaining debt on the 99-seat Embraer 190AR aircraft, an amount it didn't disclose.

US Airways announced this month that it would consider selling 25 of its Embraer 190s to reduce capacity.

Republic said four of the jets are expected to enter service in November and December 2009, replacing Boeing 717 aircraft that are being taken out of service at its Midwest Airlines subsidiary.

The other six planes are expected to enter service on Republic in the first half of next year.

The acquisitions will give Republic's subsidiaries 145 Embraer regional jets.

Republic Airways Holdings owns Republic Airlines, Midwest, Chautauqua Airlines, Lynx Aviation, Shuttle America and recently bought Frontier Airlines.

Together, the carriers operate about 1,800 daily flights, including in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Costa Rica. Many are under regional operations for larger airlines, such as AmericanConnection, Continental Express, Delta Connection, United Express and US Airways Express.

Republic shares rose 59 cents, or 6.3 percent, to $9.93 in afternoon trading.