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Organization and Business
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
ORGANIZATION & BUSINESS [Abstract]  
Nature of Operations [Text Block]
ORGANIZATION & BUSINESS
 
We are a Delaware holding company organized in 1996 that offers scheduled passenger services through our wholly-owned operating air carrier subsidiaries: Chautauqua Airlines, Inc. (“Chautauqua”) through December 31, 2014, Shuttle America Corporation (“Shuttle”) and Republic Airline Inc. (“Republic Airline”). Unless the context indicates otherwise, the terms the “Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our,” refer to Republic Airways Holdings Inc. and our subsidiaries.

As of December 31, 2014, our operating subsidiaries offered scheduled passenger service on 1,229 flights daily to 101 cities in 38 states and Canada under scheduled passenger service through our fixed-fee code-share agreements with United Continental Holdings, Inc. ("United"), Delta Air Lines, Inc. ("Delta"), and US Airways/American Airlines Group, Inc. ("American") (collectively referred to as our "Partners"). Currently, we provide our Partners with fixed-fee regional airline services, operating as United Express, Delta Connection, US Airways Express/American Eagle, including service out of their hubs and focus cities. The Company operated aircraft under a pro-rate agreement with Frontier Airlines, Inc. ("Frontier") which terminated during the first quarter of 2014.

The following table outlines the type of aircraft our subsidiaries operate and their respective operations within our business units as of December 31, 2014:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Operating Subsidiaries
 
Aircraft Size (Seats)
 
United
 
Delta
 
US Airways/American
 
Charters/Spares
 
Number of Aircraft
Chautauqua
 
44 to 50
 

 
41

 

 

 
41

Shuttle America
 
70 to 76
 
38

 
30

 

 

 
68

Republic Airline
 
69 to 99
 
28

 

 
99

 
8

 
135

Total number of operating aircraft
 
 
 
66

 
71

 
99

 
8

 
244



During 2014, our operational fleet decreased from 258 to 244. The company took delivery of 22 E175 aircraft, permanently parked 15 E140 aircraft, temporarily parked 13 E145 aircraft, sold two E190 aircraft and leased three E145 aircraft and three E190 aircraft.

We have fixed-fee regional jet code-share agreements with each of our Partners that require us to maintain specified performance levels. Pursuant to these fixed-fee agreements, which provide for minimum aircraft utilization at fixed rates, we are authorized to use our Partners' two-character flight designation codes to identify our flights and fares in our Partners' computer reservation systems, to paint our aircraft in the style of our Partners, to use their service marks and to market ourselves as a carrier for our Partners. Our fixed-fee agreements have historically limited our exposure to fluctuations in fuel prices, fare competition and passenger volumes. Our development of relationships with multiple major airlines has enabled us to reduce our dependence on any single airline, allocate our overhead more efficiently among our Partners and reduce the cost of our services to our Partners.

Sale of Frontier

In October 2013, the Company entered into a stock purchase agreement for the sale of Frontier to an affiliate of Indigo Partners LLC. The sale was consummated on December 3, 2013. As a result, the Company reported Frontier as discontinued operations on the consolidated statements of operations and consolidated statements of cash flows for all periods presented.

Certificate Consolidation

On January 1, 2015, Republic completed its consolidation of all Chautauqua Airlines operations onto the Shuttle America operating certificate. All operating aircraft and related employees are now transferred to Shuttle America's operation. Republic hopes to sell the remaining Chautauqua Airlines' entity and related assets during the first half of 2015. The consolidation is consistent with the Company's strategy to simplify its business by operating fewer fleet types on fewer certificates.

Code-Share Agreements

Through our subsidiaries, we have entered into code-share agreements with US Airways, American, Delta, and United (the "Partners") that authorize us to use their two-character flight designator codes ("US," "AA," "DL," and "UA") to identify our flights and fares in their computer reservation systems, to paint our aircraft with their colors and/or logos, to use their service marks and to market and advertise our status as US Airways Express, American Eagle, Delta Connection, or United Express, respectively. Under the code-share agreements between our subsidiaries and each of US Airways, American, Delta, and United, we are compensated on a fixed-fee basis on all of our flights. In addition, under our code-share agreements, our passengers participate in frequent flyer programs of the Partners, and the Partners provide additional services such as reservations, ticket issuance, ground support services, commuter slot rights and airport facilities.

The following table is a summary representation of existing Capacity Purchase Agreements ("CPAs") with our Partners as of December 31, 2014:
Partner
 
Aircraft Type
 
Seats on Aircraft
 
Number of Aircraft under CPAs
 
Current Expiration Date(s)
US Airways
 
E170
 
69

 
20

 
March 2019 to March 2023
US Airways
 
E175
 
80

 
38

 
March 2019 to March 2023 and February 2019 to July 2020
American
 
E175
 
76

 
41

 
July 2025 to February 2027
Delta
 
E145
 
50

 
41

 
August 2015 to May 2016
Delta
 
E170
 
70

 
14

 
May 2021 to October 2021
Delta
 
E175
 
76

 
16

 
August 2023 to February 2024
United
 
E170
 
70

 
38

 
September 2019 to December 2022
United
 
Q400
 
71

 
28

 
January 2015 to September 2016


US Airways/American Code-Share Agreements

On December 9, 2013, US Airways Group, Inc. became a wholly owned subsidiary of American Airlines Group, Inc. (formerly known as AMR Corporation). The Company continues to operate the capacity purchase agreements with both entities independently as the agreements have not been assigned to the merged organization.

Under our fixed-fee Jet Services Agreements with US Airways, we operated, as of December 31, 2014, 20 E170 aircraft and 38 E175 aircraft. As of December 31, 2014, we were providing 355 flights per day as US Airways Express.

In exchange for providing the designated number of flights and performing our other obligations under the code-share agreements, we receive compensation from US Airways three times each month. We receive an additional amount per available seat mile flown and may also receive incentives or pay penalties based upon our performance, including fleet launch performance, on-time departure performance and completion percentage rates. In addition, certain operating costs are considered pass through costs whereby US Airways has agreed to reimburse us the actual amount of costs we incur for these items. Landing fees, passenger catering, passenger liability insurance and aircraft property tax costs are pass through costs and are included in our fixed-fee services revenue. US Airways provides fuel directly for all of our US Airways operations.

On November 6, 2014, the Company entered into an Amendment to the Amended and Restated Jet Service Agreement with US Airways, Inc., dated as of September 2, 2005. Under the amendment, the code-share agreement for the E170/175 aircraft was extended and now terminates between March 2019 and March 2023 with respect to the 20 E170 aircraft and eight of the E175 aircraft.   The service terms for the remaining 30 E175 aircraft were not extended and are scheduled to terminate 12 years from each aircraft’s in-service date and therefore would terminate from February 2019 to July 2020. US Airways may terminate the code-share agreements at any time for cause upon not less than 90 days notice and subject to our right to cure under certain conditions.
As of December 31, 2014, we operated 41 E175 aircraft for American under a fixed-fee code-share agreement and provided 224 flights per day as American Eagle.

Under the code-share agreement, American retains all passenger, certain cargo and other revenues associated with each flight and is responsible for all revenue-related expenses. We share revenue with American for certain cargo shipments. Additionally, certain operating costs are considered pass through costs and American has agreed to reimburse us the actual amount of costs we incur for these items.  Landing fees, hull and liability insurance and aircraft property tax costs are pass through costs and included in our fixed-fee services revenue. We do not record fuel expense and the related revenue for the American operations.

As of December 31, 2013, 41 of the 47 aircraft are in service; the remaining six aircraft begin service between January 2015 and May 2015. Unless otherwise extended or amended, the E175 code-share agreement terminates on the 12th anniversary of the implementation date of each aircraft with terms expiring between July 2025 and February 2027. American has the option of extending the E175 agreement with respect to each aircraft, for up to two additional two year terms. The agreement is subject to early termination under various circumstances.

On February 28, 2014, the Company announced that it had entered into an Amendment to the Amended and Restated Air Services Agreement with American Airlines Group, Inc. dated as of June 12, 2002. In the Amendment, the parties agreed to remove 15 E140 aircraft from service under the Air Services Agreement between March 2014 and August 2014. Upon removal of the last of the American Removed Aircraft, the Air Services Agreement terminated.

The Delta Code-Share Agreements

As of December 31, 2014, we operated 41 E145 aircraft, 14 E170 aircraft, and 16 E175 aircraft for Delta under fixed-fee code-share agreements.  As of December 31, 2014, we provided 367 flights per day as Delta Connection.

Unless otherwise extended or amended, the code-share agreement for the E145 aircraft terminates in May 2016. Delta may terminate the code-share agreements at any time, with or without cause, if it provides us 180 days written notice, for the E145 regional jet code-share agreement, or after July 2015 for the E175 regional jet code-share agreement. With respect to the E145 agreement, if Delta chooses to terminate any aircraft early, it may not reduce the number of aircraft in service to less than 12 during the 12-month period following the 180 days initial notice period unless it completely terminates the code-share agreement. We refer to this as Delta's partial termination right.

If Delta exercises this right under the E145 agreement or the E175 agreement or if we terminate either agreement for cause, we have the right to require Delta either to purchase, sublease or assume the lease of aircraft leased by us with respect to any of the aircraft that we previously operated for Delta under that agreement.  If we choose not to exercise our put right, or if Delta terminates either agreement for cause, they may require us to sell or sublease to them or Delta may assume the lease of aircraft leased by us with respect to any of the aircraft we previously operated for it under that agreement. There is no early termination provision under the E170 agreement.

On December 11, 2014, the Company entered into Amendment Number Seven to the Delta Connection Agreement with Delta Airlines, Inc. dated as of January 20, 2005. Under the Agreement, the Company operates 14 E170 and 16 E175 aircraft as Delta Connection. The amendment provides for, among other things, an agreement for Shuttle to operate nine additional E170 aircraft to be placed into service between the third quarter of 2015 and the second quarter of 2016 for a term of six years per aircraft. The amendment also provides for an extension of the air transportation services provided by the Company with respect to the 14 E170 for another four years, for terms ending from May 2021 to October 2021, and extend the 16 E175 aircraft by approximately five years, for terms ending from August 2023 to February 2024. Delta may further extend the service terms for any or all of the 14 E170 and 16 E175 aircraft for an additional five years. The amendment also provides that Delta may purchase any or all of the E175 aircraft for an amount equal to the net book value of such aircraft at the end of the current terms for such aircraft or at any time during the extended terms, in which case Delta would lease the purchased aircraft to the Company for the Company's operation during the remainder of the terms.

Certain of our operating costs are considered pass through costs, whereby Delta has agreed to reimburse us the actual amount of costs we incur for these items. Aircraft rent/ownership expenses are also considered a pass through cost, but the reimbursement is limited to specified amounts for certain aircraft. Engine maintenance expenses, landing fees, passenger liability insurance, hull insurance, war risk insurance, de-icing costs, and aircraft property taxes are some of the pass through costs included in our fixed-fee services revenue. All fuel is purchased directly by Delta and is not charged back to the Company.

The agreements may be subject to immediate or early termination under various circumstances.
    
The United Code-Share Agreement

As of December 31, 2014, we operated 38 E170 aircraft and 28 Q400 aircraft for United under fixed-fee code-share agreements.  As of December 31, 2014, we provided 353 flights per day as United Express.

The fixed rates that we receive from United under the code-share agreements are annually adjusted in accordance with an agreed escalation formula. All fuel is purchased directly by United and is not charged back to the Company. Additionally, certain of our operating costs are considered pass through costs whereby United has agreed to reimburse us the actual amount of costs we incur for these items. Landing fees, war risk insurance, liability insurance and aircraft property taxes are pass through costs and included in our fixed-fee services revenue.  

On February 28, 2014, the Company announced that it had entered into the Fifth Amendment to the Capacity Purchase Agreement with United Airlines dated as of July 21, 2006. In the Amendment, the parties agreed to remove 12 E145 aircraft from service under the CPA Agreement on April 1, 2014. Upon removal of the last of the United Removed Aircraft, the CPA Agreement terminated.

On September 16, 2014, the Company announced that it had entered into an Amendment to Capacity Purchase Agreement amending the Capacity Purchase Agreement dated as of May 1, 2012. The amendment provides for the removal from service of the Q400 aircraft operating under the agreement beginning in January 2015 and ending in September 2016, subject to adjustment of the schedule to accommodate the parties operational schedules.
Also, on September 16, 2014, the Company announced that it had entered into a Seventh Amendment to the United Express Agreement, originally entered into on December 28, 2006. Pursuant to the amendment, the Company agreed to operate 50 E175 aircraft under the United Express brand with service to start in mid-2015. The new aircraft, which will seat 76 passengers in a two-class cabin, are expected to be phased into operation at approximately two to three aircraft per month beginning in mid-2015 through the third quarter of 2017. In addition, United has the option to add up to 50 additional E175 aircraft to the United Express Agreement by providing notice to the Company on or before December 31, 2016. Each new aircraft will be subject to the United Express Agreement for 12 years after the date it is placed in service thereunder, subject to United's right to extend the term for any group of 10 aircraft for four years. In January 2015, the Company finalized amendments to its agreements with United and Embraer to increase the number of E175 aircraft deliveries by five, to 55.
In addition to the foregoing provisions, the amendment extends the term of the UA Express Agreement with respect to the 38 existing E170 aircraft the Company is flying for United by approximately three years, with aircraft terms expiring between September 2019 and December 2022.
United has a call option to assume our ownership or leasehold interest in certain aircraft if we wrongfully terminate the code-share agreements or if United terminates the agreements for our breach for certain reasons.
Concentrations

As of December 31, 2014, substantially all fixed-fee service revenues are derived from code-share agreements with Delta, US Airways/American, and United.  Termination of any of these code-share agreements could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

The following sets forth our Partners' regional airline services revenue and accounts receivable as a percentage of total regional airline services revenue and net receivables:
Revenues for the years ended:
 
Delta
 
United
 
US Airways/American
December 31, 2014
 
24%
 
29%
 
43%
December 31, 2013
 
24%
 
31%
 
35%
December 31, 2012
 
19%
 
27%
 
34%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Receivables as of:
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 31, 2014
 
4%
 
3%
 
26%
December 31, 2013
 
7%
 
23%
 
19%