“We are proud to release our 2025 Annual Report, with a very special issue that celebrates RAA’s 50th anniversary — a remarkable milestone for an organization that has always been more than a trade association. For five decades, RAA has been a community of professionals who set rivalry aside to serve the greater good of regional aviation and the people and communities who depend on us,” said RAA’s President and CEO, Faye Malarkey Black.
Highlights from the report:
Regional Air Service Impact
- 635 U.S. airports have regional air service – nearly every commercially served U.S. airport.
- About two-thirds of today’s commercially served U.S. airports rely on regional airlines for their only source of air service.
- Regional airlines operated 32.3% of U.S. scheduled passenger departures.
- In states like West Virginia, Alaska, North Dakota, Kansas, Arkansas, Alabama, and Vermont, regional airlines provide over 70% of the total air service.
- In Maine, Mississippi, South Dakota, Idaho, Wyoming, New Hampshire, Montana, Wisconsin, Iowa, Virginia, Kentucky, and Indiana, regional airlines provide more than half of the air service.
Workforce
- Nearly half of today’s part 121 qualified pilot workforce face federally mandated age 65 retirement within fifteen years.
- The pipeline of new pilots has continued to narrow, emphasizing the need for continued focus on access to and financing for high quality training.
The data on the report reinforces the significant impact of regional air service in the U.S. and its importance in keeping our economy moving, while connecting small and rural communities to the national air transportation system.
“From the beginning, safety has been our central ethos. Looking ahead, our focus is clear: ensuring regulations and airline-led initiatives continue to advance safety, with a strong emphasis on modernizing our nation’s Air Traffic Control system. We remain committed to building a resilient, well-trained workforce,” Malarkey Black added.
To learn more about the role of regional airlines in maintaining air service and the challenges facing the aviation industry, including maintenance workforce trends, view the full 2025 RAA Annual Report.
Tags: :Faye Malarkey Black, Regional Airline Association (RAA)
