Republic Airways’ longtime CEO Bryan Bedford announced his retirement after being in charge of the airline for more than 25 years. In light of his departure, Matt Koscal has been elevated to President of Republic Airways with immediate effect by the Board of Directors, which also appointed David Grizzle as the venture’s new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Operating almost 1,000 daily flights on behalf of its major airline partners and establishing a reputation for safety, dependability, and a people-first culture, Republic Airways expanded to become one of the biggest regional airlines in the United States during Bedford’s tenure.
“Bryan has led Republic Airways through extraordinary periods of challenge and transformation with clarity, compassion, and integrity. I’ve had the privilege of working alongside him for more than a decade and have benefited immensely from his leadership and mentorship. As he enters his next chapter, I know I speak for the entire Republic family in expressing our gratitude and best wishes,” Koscal said.
Koscal began working for Republic Airways in 2014 and has held several high-level positions, most recently as Chief Administrative Officer and Executive Vice President. He will continue to lead the company’s operations and strategic initiatives, including the merger with Mesa Air Group, after being named President earlier this year as part of a planned transition. The merger is anticipated to provide a more robust and competitive foundation for future expansion, increased resources, and improved service for both passengers and airline partners. The deal is still scheduled to close later in 2025.
“This is an exciting and important time for Republic Airways. With a strong team in place and a clear path ahead, I’m honoured to help lead our airline into its next chapter, one that I am confident will be defined by growth, innovation, superior service and reliability, and always, an unwavering commitment to safety,” Koscal added.
Grizzle brings more than four decades of aviation industry experience to his new role, including senior executive roles at Continental Airlines and service as Chief Counsel and head of air traffic control at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
“Republic Airways is well-positioned for the future, with a strong leadership team, a clear strategic vision, and an unwavering commitment to safety and operational excellence. I’m honoured to support the company during this important period and look forward to working alongside Matt and the leadership team as they guide the airways forward,” the veteran said.
Meet David Grizzle
David Grizzle began his academic journey at Harvard University, earning a bachelor’s in government, followed by a Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School in 1978. He began his career as a lawyer in New York and rose to the position of partner. After making the move to the aviation industry in 1984, he joined New York Air as General Counsel and Vice President of Administration.
In 1986, Grizzle joined Continental Airlines, which marked the beginning of his aviation career. From corporate development and strategic marketing to Senior Vice President of Customer Experience, he held a variety of executive roles over the course of two decades. He led interdisciplinary teams and supported efforts to improve the calibre of passenger service during this time.
In order to assist the United States State Department with aviation, road, power, and telecommunications reconstruction efforts in Kabul, Afghanistan, Grizzle took a leave of absence from Continental in 2004–05 and worked as the Transportation and Infrastructure Coordinator. After that, he went back to work at Continental before retiring in 2008.
In 2009, Grizzle became the Chief Counsel for the FAA. He then became the Acting Deputy Administrator and COO of the FAA’s Air Traffic Organisation, where he managed tens of thousands of employees until 2013. With more than 40 years of legal, regulatory, and airline leadership experience, he was appointed CEO of Republic Airways in July 2025 after serving as Board Chair. He will lead the airline through its next stage of expansion and success.
Grizzle’s appointment comes at a time when the airline is looking at an “Electric Future.” The venture will evaluate Beta Technologies’ all-electric CX-300 conventional-take-off-and-landing (CTOL) aircraft for passenger and cargo use under an agreement announced during the recently concluded Paris Air Show.
Under the memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Republic Airways, Beta will provide a pre-certification Alia aircraft by the end of 2025 to assess aircraft performance and routes. The collaboration also includes a joint effort to evaluate aircraft performance, operational economics, infrastructure requirements, and the aircraft’s suitability for a range of regional passenger and cargo missions.
In another development, Mesa Air Group and Republic Airways agreed to merge in an all-stock deal, in a move that would give them a larger fleet and boost efficiency in regional flying and crew management. The combined company, which would operate as Republic Airways Holdings, will have a single fleet of about 310 Embraer 170/175 aircraft.
Republic Airways shareholders would own 88% of the combined company, while Mesa’s would own a minimum of 6% and up to 12% depending on meeting certain pre-closing criteria. The combined company is expected to remain listed on the Nasdaq under a new ticker symbol “RJET”.
The new entity’s board will have six existing directors from Republic Airways and one independent director from Mesa’s board. Republic will continue to operate flights for American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines under the existing capacity purchase agreements (CPA), while Mesa will support United Airlines under a new 10-year CPA.
Image Credits: Republic Airways