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Airline Careers · As Published In October 2026
Regional Airlines In The US: 2026 List, Pay And Hiring
A regional airline is a carrier that flies smaller jets on routes sold under a major airline’s name: United Express, Delta Connection, American Eagle or Alaska Airlines. The ten main US regional airlines fly for those four majors in 2026. First-year first officer pay at them runs from $91,508 to $115,062 a year, as published by ATP Flight School on 14 October 2026. Below is the full list of regional airlines with partners, bases, fleets and pathway programs, the hiring minimums under 14 CFR 61.159 and 61.160, and how pilots get from Van Nuys to a regional airline.
10 US Regional AirlinesPay Verified October 20261,500 / 1,250 / 1,000 / 750 HoursTraining At Van Nuys Airport
10regional airlines flying for United, Delta, American and Alaska in this 2026 list
441 of 487SkyWest scheduled aircraft flown under capacity purchase agreements at 31 Dec 2025
1,500hours for an ATP, or 1,250, 1,000 or 750 under 14 CFR 61.160
$91.5K–$115Kfirst-year first officer pay, ATP Flight School, 14 Oct 2026
The Basics
What Is A Regional Airline?
A regional airline is an airline that flies regional jets on contract for a major airline, under the major’s brand, schedule and ticketing. You buy a United ticket; the airplane may be flown by SkyWest, Mesa or GoJet.
The regional flies the smaller airplanes — in 2026 almost all of them are Embraer E170s, E175s and ERJ145s or Bombardier CRJs — between the major’s hubs and the cities that do not fill a mainline jet. The airplane is painted in the major’s regional brand, the flight carries the major’s flight number, and the passenger may never see the regional’s own name.
Some regionals are owned by a major. Envoy, Piedmont and PSA are American Airlines’ wholly owned regionals, and Endeavor Air is a wholly owned subsidiary of Delta. Others, such as SkyWest and Republic, are separate companies that hold contracts with several majors at once.
Regionals are also where most US airline pilots start. They hire at the ATP minimums, they train new first officers in their own jets, and many of them run programs that move pilots to a partner major after a set time.
CPA
Capacity Purchase Agreement
The major pays the regional a fixed fee for each departure and generally carries the fuel risk, as SkyWest describes it in its 2025 annual report. The major sets the schedule and sells the seats.
PRO
Prorate Agreement
The regional takes a share of the ticket revenue for its leg and carries substantially all operating costs, including fuel. SkyWest flew 46 of 487 scheduled aircraft this way at the end of 2025.
List Of Regional Airlines
List Of Regional Airlines In The US: The 2026 Table
As published in October 2026. Every row was checked against the airline’s own careers site, its pilot union’s page or a dated 2025–2026 source on 15 October 2026. Where we could not verify a cell, it shows a dash.
| Airline | Flies As | Main Hubs / Pilot Bases | Fleet | First-Year FO Pay | Path To A Major |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Endeavor Air | Delta Connection (owned by Delta) | Pilot bases: Atlanta, Cincinnati, Detroit, Minneapolis, Raleigh–Durham, New York JFK and LaGuardia | CRJ700, CRJ900 | $111,492 | Delta Propel; at least 24 months as an Endeavor captain before moving to Delta |
| Envoy Air | American Eagle (owned by American) | Pilot bases: Dallas/Fort Worth, Chicago, Miami, Phoenix | E170, E175 | $110,428 | Flow to American with no additional interview; American Airlines Cadet Academy |
| PSA Airlines | American Eagle (owned by American) | Pilot bases: Charlotte, Dayton, Washington DC, Dallas/Fort Worth, Philadelphia | CRJ700, CRJ900 | $111,180 | Flow to American; American Airlines Cadet Academy |
| Piedmont Airlines | American Eagle (owned by American) | Crew bases: Charlotte, Philadelphia, Harrisburg | ERJ145 | $111,684 | Captains flow to American in five years, per Piedmont; cadet program from 500 hours |
| SkyWest Airlines | United Express, Delta Connection, American Eagle and Alaska Airlines | Principal airports include Chicago O’Hare, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, Seattle | E175, CRJ900, CRJ700/CRJ550, CRJ200 | $106,170 | United Aviate carrier since 11 Dec 2025 (1,200 or 1,600 captain hours to transition) |
| Republic Airways | American Eagle, Delta Connection and United Express | Headquarters Indianapolis; 12 bases (not named on its careers page) | E170, E175 | $99,297 | LIFT Academy and RJet Cadet program; no single-major flow |
| Mesa Airlines | United Express (merged into Republic Airways Holdings, Nov 2025) | Pilot bases: Houston, Louisville, Washington Dulles | E175 | $115,062 | United Aviate carrier |
| Horizon Air | Alaska Airlines | Domiciles: Seattle, Everett, Spokane, Portland, Medford, Boise, Anchorage | E175 | $99,900 | Pilot Pathways: Horizon to Alaska |
| GoJet Airlines | United Express | — | CRJ550 | $100,419 | United Aviate carrier |
| CommuteAir | United Express | Serves United at Washington Dulles and Houston | ERJ145 | $91,508 | United Aviate carrier |
How to read the pay column. First-year first officer pay is ATP Flight School’s published annual figure, dated 14 October 2026, which it defines as average pay from guaranteed hours including per diem. It is not a promise of what any pilot will earn. Where an airline publishes its own hourly rate we quote it below.
Not in the table. Air Wisconsin stopped flying for American in 2025 after American ended its agreement early, and now flies charter and Essential Air Service routes, according to its pilots’ union, ALPA. Republic and Mesa completed their merger on 25 November 2025 as Republic Airways Holdings; the two still operate as separate airlines while they work toward a single certificate, so they appear as two rows.
Pay and programs change. Contracts, bonuses, bases and pathway terms move often. Confirm every figure on the airline’s own careers site before you rely on it.
Regional Airline Pilot Pay
Regional Airline Pilot Pay In 2026
A first-year regional first officer is paid an hourly rate times a monthly guarantee, plus per diem and any bonus. On ATP Flight School’s October 2026 figures, that comes to $91,508 to $115,062 in year one.
| Airline | What The Airline Publishes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Piedmont | $102 an hour for first-year first officers on a 75-hour monthly guarantee; $4,500 cadet bonus | Piedmont pilot careers site |
| Horizon Air | First officer wages starting at $92.72 an hour; captain wages starting at $153.68 an hour | Alaska Air Group careers site |
| Envoy Air | Starting pay of more than $90 an hour; new first officers eligible for a 50% pilot supply premium through 31 December 2026 | Envoy pilot careers site |
| Endeavor Air | First officer pay up to $111.65 an hour; $20,000–$40,000 sign-on bonus depending on qualifying Part 121 experience | Endeavor experienced first officer page |
The bigger number comes later. Captain pay at a regional is well above first officer pay, and the move to a major is where airline pay climbs steeply. For the whole curve from first officer to widebody captain, read our airline pilot salary guide and how much do pilots make. The Bureau of Labor Statistics put median pay for airline pilots, copilots and flight engineers at $232,140 in May 2025, a figure that includes every seniority level.
Hiring Minimums
What You Need To Fly For A Regional Airline
You need an airline transport pilot certificate. Under 14 CFR 121.436(b), a second in command in airline operations must hold an ATP and a type rating for the aircraft, so the ATP hour minimums are the regional hiring minimums.
| Route To The ATP | Total Hours | Who Qualifies | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted ATP | 1,500 | Anyone, at age 23; includes 500 cross-country, 100 night, 75 instrument and 250 pilot in command | 61.159(a), 61.153(a)(1) |
| Restricted ATP — associate degree, or bachelor’s with 30–59 aviation credits | 1,250 | Aviation degree from an FAA-authorized institution, with the commercial and instrument training done in its Part 141 curriculum | 61.160(c), (d) |
| Restricted ATP — bachelor’s degree | 1,000 | Bachelor’s degree with an aviation major and at least 60 aviation credit hours, same Part 141 condition | 61.160(b) |
| Restricted ATP — military | 750 | US military or former military pilots who completed military pilot training | 61.160(a) |
The restricted routes set the minimum age at 21 under 61.153(a)(2), and they reduce the cross-country requirement to 200 hours under 61.160(e). Every route also needs the ATP Certification Training Program before the multi-engine ATP knowledge test: under 14 CFR 61.156 that is an approved course with at least 30 hours of classroom instruction and 10 hours in a flight simulation training device. Airline programs set their own medical bar: American’s Cadet Academy, for example, requires an FAA first-class medical, and our first-class medical page explains how to get one.
One point that matters for training in Los Angeles: the 1,000- and 1,250-hour routes require a degree program with FAA authorization. Pilots who train at a Part 61 school, including ours, reach the airlines on the standard 1,500-hour ATP. More on the rule itself is on our ATP and 1,500-hour rule page.
Flow-Through And Cadet Programs
How Regional Airlines Connect To The Majors
Each major runs its own route from its regionals into its own cockpit. The terms below are as each airline publishes them in 2026.
American: Envoy, Piedmont, PSA
American’s three wholly owned regionals have a contractual flow to American. Envoy describes it as a direct path with no additional interview. The American Airlines Cadet Academy, run with ATP Flight School, places cadets at one of the three after they instruct to the hiring minimums.
Delta: Endeavor And Propel
Delta’s Propel program gives a qualified job offer with Delta and Endeavor through a single interview. Pilots then serve at least 24 months as an Endeavor captain before moving to Delta. Propel also has a path for working CFIs within 12 months of the minimums.
United: Aviate
United Aviate’s participating United Express carriers are CommuteAir, GoJet, Mesa and SkyWest. SkyWest joined on 11 December 2025. Aviate pilots transition to United after meeting set captain-hour requirements, which United lists as 1,200 or 1,600 hours depending on entry point.
Alaska: Horizon
Horizon Air describes itself as the fastest path to its mainline carrier, Alaska Airlines, through its Pilot Pathways: Horizon to Alaska program. Horizon flies an all-E175 fleet from seven Pacific Northwest and Alaska domiciles.
Republic: LIFT Academy
Republic flies for American, Delta and United, so it has no single-major flow. It runs its own training school, LIFT Academy, and an RJet Cadet program that leads into its own first officer seats.
Direct Applications
A pathway is not the only way in. SkyWest pilots, for example, may still apply directly to United as first officers. Most majors hire experienced regional captains through ordinary applications.
Time At A Regional
How Long Pilots Stay At A Regional Airline
On the airlines’ own published program terms, most pathway pilots spend roughly two to five years at a regional before moving to a major. The exact time depends on the program, the base and the hiring cycle.
The programs set the floor. Delta requires at least 24 months as an Endeavor captain before a Propel pilot moves to Delta, and Endeavor advertises a path to Delta “in as little as 24 months.” Piedmont says its captains flow to American in five years, or move to the top of the pay scale until they do. United’s Aviate sets captain-hour targets of 1,200 or 1,600 hours rather than a calendar date.
Captain time is the common thread. Most programs, and most major-airline hiring departments, want regional captain experience, so the speed of your upgrade at the regional drives the timeline. Upgrade speed depends on the regional’s growth and on your seniority number, which is your date of hire.
Some pilots stay. A senior regional captain earns a good living, often lives in base and has a schedule a junior major-airline pilot does not. Both are legitimate careers.
| Program | Published Requirement |
|---|---|
| Delta Propel (Endeavor) | At least 24 months as an Endeavor captain |
| Piedmont to American | Captains flow in five years |
| United Aviate | 1,200 or 1,600 captain hours, by entry point |
| Envoy to American | Direct path, no additional interview |
From Van Nuys
The Path From Van Nuys Training To A Regional Airline
The route is set by regulation: certificates first, then hours, then the ATP. Training for the certificates takes place at a flight school; the hours come from flying for pay.
STEP ONE
Private Pilot Certificate
At least 40 hours under 14 CFR 61.109. Our private pilot programs start at $10,900 for 40 hours.
STEP TWO
Instrument Rating
Under 14 CFR 61.65, and required before an airplane instructor certificate. $11,700 at our published price.
STEP THREE
Commercial And Multi-Engine
250 hours total for the commercial certificate under 61.129, plus the multi-engine rating in our Piper Seminole, a $5,100 add-on.
STEP FOUR
CFI, CFII And MEI
The instructor certificates turn a commercial certificate into a paid flying job. Our zero-to-airline program covers commercial, instrument, multi-engine and CFI for $89,000.
STEP FIVE
Instruct To 1,500 Hours
A full-time CFI typically logs 60 to 90 hours a month. Read how CFI jobs work and what they pay.
STEP SIX
ATP CTP, ATP, Regional Class
Complete the ATP Certification Training Program, pass the ATP knowledge and practical tests, then start a regional airline’s new-hire class and type rating.
Cadet and pathway programs are run by the airlines, and you apply to them directly; a flight school cannot promise anyone a job. The full timeline and costs from zero are on our airline pilot career path at Van Nuys page, and the program itself is on airline pilot school Los Angeles.
Van Nuys Airport
Every Regional Airline Pilot Took A First Lesson
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FAQ
Regional Airline Questions, Answered
A regional airline flies smaller jets, mostly Embraer E-Jets, ERJ145s and Bombardier CRJs, on contract for a major airline and under its brand: United Express, Delta Connection, American Eagle or Alaska Airlines. The major usually pays a fixed fee per departure under a capacity purchase agreement and sells the tickets. Regionals are where most US airline pilots get their first airline job.
SkyWest is the largest, with 487 aircraft in scheduled service or under contract and 5,354 pilots at the end of 2025, flying for United, Delta, American and Alaska. Republic Airways Holdings, formed when Republic and Mesa merged in November 2025, operates 310 Embraer E-Jets. Envoy, PSA and Piedmont are wholly owned by American, and Endeavor by Delta.
On ATP Flight School's figures published 14 October 2026, Mesa had the highest first-year first officer pay at $115,062, followed by Piedmont at $111,684, Endeavor at $111,492, PSA at $111,180 and Envoy at $110,428. CommuteAir was lowest at $91,508. These include per diem on guaranteed hours. Bonuses and contracts change often, so confirm on each airline's careers site.
In October 2026 Endeavor, Envoy, Piedmont, Horizon and Republic were all advertising pilot jobs or new-hire incentives on their careers sites, and Envoy's 50 percent pilot supply premium for new first officers runs through 31 December 2026. Hiring moves in cycles and can slow quickly, so check each airline's careers page and pathway program directly before you apply.
1,500 hours for an unrestricted ATP under 14 CFR 61.159, because a regional first officer must hold an ATP under 14 CFR 121.436. A restricted ATP under 61.160 lowers that to 1,250 hours with an associate aviation degree, 1,000 hours with a qualifying bachelor's degree, or 750 hours for military pilots. You must be 23 for an ATP, or 21 for a restricted one.
Not straight from training, because you must first reach ATP minimums. What you can do is join a cadet or pathway program early: American's Cadet Academy, for example, gives a conditional offer from Envoy, Piedmont or PSA before you build hours as an instructor. Most pilots finish their certificates, instruct to 1,500 hours, then start a regional new-hire class.
A flow-through is a contractual path from a regional to its partner major. Envoy, Piedmont and PSA pilots flow to American; Envoy says no additional interview is needed. Delta Propel moves Endeavor captains to Delta after at least 24 months as captain, and United Aviate moves pilots from CommuteAir, GoJet, Mesa and SkyWest once they meet captain-hour requirements.
Yes. SkyWest lists Los Angeles among the principal airports where it operates for its major partners, according to its 2025 annual report. For a pilot training at Van Nuys, that means regional jets are part of the traffic you share airspace with every day, though where you are based once hired depends on the airline's bases and your seniority.
Keep Reading
Where To Go Next
Sources
Sources And Regulations Cited
Each table row was checked on 15 October 2026 against these sources. Pay and programs change; confirm on the airline’s own site.
Regulations
14 CFR 61.153 — ATP Eligibility14 CFR 61.159 — ATP Aeronautical Experience14 CFR 61.160 — Restricted ATP14 CFR 121.436 — Pilot QualificationBLS — Airline And Commercial Pilots (May 2025)ATP Flight School — Regional Airline Pilot Pay (14 Oct 2026)Airline Careers Sites
Endeavor Air — Experienced First OfficerEnvoy Air — Pilot CareersPiedmont Airlines — PilotsHorizon Air — Pilot CareersRepublic Airways — Pilot CareersGoJet Airlines — First OfficerUnited Aviate — NetworkUnited Aviate — SkyWest PathwayDelta — PropelAmerican Airlines Cadet Academy (ATP)Table as published in October 2026 and checked 15 October 2026. Pay figures are third-party and airline-published data, not LA Flight School figures. LA Flight School does not guarantee airline employment.
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I recently had the chance to take my first-ever discovery flight, and it was nothing short of amazing! From the moment I stepped into the cockpit, the...
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It was a great flight! I did a sunset flight and Alex let us fly an awesome. Website was easy to book, and the plane itself was really fun to fly...
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We had a great flying lesson with Ralph and came away with a much better understanding of both the aircraft and the principles of flight. Ralph is a...
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I got 2 luxury discovery flights for my kids. I wanted them to have the experience of flying. Our instructor Alex was amazing he made sure they feel...
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Last minute booking to surprise my wife on our honeymoon. She had no experience with flying and was scared of flying, but Alex was very easygoing and knew...
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Amazing flight school in van nuys airport. I have been a student here for the past few months and i could not be happier. I started doing a lot of...
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I booked a Discovery Flight for Two for my girlfriend's birthday and it was the perfect gift for her. She couldn't have been more excited to get to...
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Very professional and great airplanes. I love the flight simulators. The pricing is very fair compared to any other flight school
TEEN FIRST LESSON
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We gifted our teenage son his first flying lesson. He was so excited! Alex greeted us and gave a reassuring brief that made us all feel comfortable and at...
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