UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Mesa Air Group, Inc.

(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§ 230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§ 240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ☒

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☒

Mesa Air Group, Inc. (the “Company”) announced that United Airlines, Inc. (“United”) has designated Jonathan Ireland to serve as a member of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) and a member of the Board of Directors of its subsidiary, Mesa Airlines, Inc. (“Mesa Airlines”). The Board approved such appointment effective as of May 2, 2023. Pursuant to Section 3.15 of the Second Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company (as amended, the “Bylaws”), United has the right to designate one person to be a member of both the Company’s Board and the Board of Directors of Mesa Airlines, subject to the reasonable approval of the Board.

Jonathan Ireland is Senior Vice President of Finance at United, where he oversees United’s operating costs and $5 billion capital budget and manages the business financial planning functions. He is also responsible for United’s global procurement organization. Prior to his current role, Mr. Ireland served as Vice President of Financial Planning and Analysis, and as Managing Director of Investor Relations. Before joining United, Mr. Ireland was the credit manager for a satellite branch of Opportunity International, a microfinance non-profit based in Guadalajara, Mexico.

The Board has determined that Mr. Ireland does not meet the independence standards adopted by the Board in compliance with the NASDAQ corporate governance listing standards and Item 407(a) of Regulation S-K. Mr. Ireland was appointed by United (which beneficially owns over 5% of the outstanding stock of the Company and is its primary customer) pursuant to the Company’s Bylaws, which permit United to designate one member to the Company’s Board and one member to the Board of Directors of Mesa Airlines for so long as United owns at least 5% of the outstanding stock of the Company. Mr. Ireland has no family relationship with any director or executive officer of the Company, or any person nominated or chosen by the Company to become a director or executive officer.

Mr. Ireland is not a party to any related party transactions required to be reported in accordance with Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K and, as of the date of this Current Report on Form 8-K, holds no direct or indirect beneficial ownership in the Company’s stock or rights to acquire the Company’s stock.

As an officer of United, Mr. Ireland will not be compensated for his Board service to the Company pursuant to the terms of the Bylaws. In connection with his appointment, Mr. Ireland will enter into a standard indemnification agreement with the Company in the form previously approved by the Board, which is filed as Exhibit 10.6 to the Company’s Form S-1/A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 30, 2018, and is incorporated by reference herein.
 

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.