Regional and Major Airline Partnerships Explained

What Is a Regional Airline?

Written by: ATP Flight School Training and Career Education Series Team ATP Flight School’s Training and Career Education Series Team develops career and training information for prospective pilots, based on real-world instructional experience, industry insights and reporting, FAA-aligned standards, and ATP’s structured training programs.

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Regional and Major Airline-Backed Career Tracks Explained

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Flying for a regional airline is likely to be your first airline pilot job.

Most people don't realize that when you are flying on an airplane with the American Eagle livery, you aren't flying on American Airlines. Instead, you are flying with Envoy Air, Piedmont Airlines, or PSA Airlines. Major airlines have subsidiaries and contracted carriers they own and partner with to provide commercial flights. For example, Delta has the regional brand Delta Connection and United has United Express.

Major Airline

Regional Banner

Regional Carriers

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American Eagle Operated by Envoy Air Embraer-175

American Eagle ERJ-175 Operated by Envoy Air

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Regional and Major Airline Career Tracks

Pilots work many years to get hired by a major airline and rarely leave one to work at another. Pilots at the major airlines enjoy substantial salaries and good benefits.

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Regional Airlines

Regional airlines typically fly under the banner of a major airline but are not actually part of that airline; an example of this is CommuteAir operating under the name “United Express®. Other examples of regional airlines are Envoy Air, Mesa Airlines, SkyWest, and Republic.

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Major Airlines

While some pilots choose to stay at the regionals, most use them as a stepping stone to the major airlines. Major airlines consist of well-known names, such as American Airlines, Delta, United Airlines®, and the cargo carriers FedEx and UPS.

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Major Airline

Regional Banner

Regional Carriers

American Airlines Logo
American Eagle Logo
Envoy Air, Piedmont Airlines, PSA Airlines, or SkyWest Airlines.
United Airlines Logo
United Express Logo
CommuteAir, GoJet Airlines, Mesa Airlines, or SkyWest Airlines.
Delta Air Lines Logo
Delta Connection Logo
Endeavor Air, Republic Airways, or SkyWest Airlines
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Airline-Backed Career Tracks Direct, Structured Progression to an Airline Career

ATP’s 39 airline-backed Career Tracks provide structured training, mentorship, and clear milestones that prepare student pilots for regional and major airline careers — giving you a direct, airline-backed progression and a competitive advantage as you advance toward a professional airline career.

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Making Sense of the Airlines Compare the Regionals and Majors

At a Glance Regional And Major Airline Overview

Regional Airline Major Airline
Pilot Rank First Officer and Captain First Officer and Captain
Experience Level Low High
Pilot Salary Range $85,000 - $217,530 $98,680 - $450,000
Passenger Seats 50 - 100 seats 100 - 400 seats
Aircraft Examples
  • Embraer ERJ 140/145 (44 - 50 seats)
  • Embraer ERJ 175 (76 - 88 seats)
  • Airbus A350-900 (306 seats)
  • Boeing 737-800 (160 seats)
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