Plans for a merger between U.S. regional airlines Republic Airways and Trans States Holdings are on ice, according to three people briefed on the situation. And the likely demise of the deal originates with United Airlines, the people said.
Trans States (parent company of Trans States Airlines, Go Jet Airlines and Compass Airlines) and Republic earlier in the summer had signed a memorandum of understanding outlining the framework for a merger. The agreement, exclusively reported by The Air Current, set the companies on a course for joining the second and third largest U.S. regional carriers. An announcement of the merger had been expected as early as August.
