US Airways Group Inc. will extend by more than three years a deal to use Mesa Air Group Inc. to operate some of its regional flights while reducing payments to Mesa, the companies announced today.

Mesa, which is operating under bankruptcy protection, will fly for US Airways through September 2015 under what the companies called a nonbinding term sheet.

Mesa’s contract to operate US Airways Express flights was due to expire June 12, 2012. It operates 38 CRJ900 regional jets for the bigger airline out of US Airways hubs in Phoenix and Charlotte, N.C.

In Hawaii Mesa operates interisland carrier go! Mokulele.