<PAGE>


                           POWER OF ATTORNEY

        The undersigned officer and/or director of Mesaba Holdings,
Inc. hereby constitutes and appoints Bryan K. Bedford and John S.
fredericksen, or either of them, with power to act without the
other, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full
power of substituition and resubstituition, for him and in his
stead, in any and all capacities to sign Form 10-K of Mesaba
Holdings, Inc. for the year ended March 31, 1997, pursuant to the
requirements of Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and
other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and
agent, full power and authority to do and perform each and every
act and thing necessary or advisable to be done in connection
therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or
could do in person, herby ratifying and confiming all that said
attorney-in-fact and agent, or his substitute or substitutes, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue herof.

Dated: June 19, 1997
                           Signed: /s/ Christopher E. Clouser 
                                  ---------------------------
                                       Christopher E. Clouser  
<PAGE>


                           POWER OF ATTORNEY

        The undersigned officer and/or director of Mesaba Holdings,
Inc. hereby constitutes and appoints Bryan K. Bedford and John S.
fredericksen, or either of them, with power to act without the
other, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full
power of substituition and resubstituition, for him and in his
stead, in any and all capacities to sign Form 10-K of Mesaba
Holdings, Inc. for the year ended March 31, 1997, pursuant to the
requirements of Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and
other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and
agent, full power and authority to do and perform each and every
act and thing necessary or advisable to be done in connection
therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or
could do in person, herby ratifying and confiming all that said
attorney-in-fact and agent, or his substitute or substitutes, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue herof.

Dated: June 30, 1997
                           Signed: /s/ Donald E. Benson
                                  ---------------------------
                                       Donald E. Benson

<PAGE>


                           POWER OF ATTORNEY

        The undersigned officer and/or director of Mesaba Holdings,
Inc. hereby constitutes and appoints Bryan K. Bedford and John S.
fredericksen, or either of them, with power to act without the
other, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full
power of substituition and resubstituition, for him and in his
stead, in any and all capacities to sign Form 10-K of Mesaba
Holdings, Inc. for the year ended March 31, 1997, pursuant to the
requirements of Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and
other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and
agent, full power and authority to do and perform each and every
act and thing necessary or advisable to be done in connection
therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or
could do in person, herby ratifying and confiming all that said
attorney-in-fact and agent, or his substitute or substitutes, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue herof.

Dated: June 19, 1996
                           Signed: /s/ Richard B. Hirst
                                  ---------------------------
                                       Richard B. Hirst

<PAGE>


                           POWER OF ATTORNEY

        The undersigned officer and/or director of Mesaba Holdings,
Inc. hereby constitutes and appoints Bryan K. Bedford and John S.
fredericksen, or either of them, with power to act without the
other, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full
power of substituition and resubstituition, for him and in his
stead, in any and all capacities to sign Form 10-K of Mesaba
Holdings, Inc. for the year ended March 31, 1997, pursuant to the
requirements of Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and
other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and
agent, full power and authority to do and perform each and every
act and thing necessary or advisable to be done in connection
therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or
could do in person, herby ratifying and confiming all that said
attorney-in-fact and agent, or his substitute or substitutes, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue herof.

Dated: June 30, 1997
                           Signed: /s/ Robert C. Pohlad
                                  ---------------------------
                                       Robert C. Pohlad

<PAGE>


                           POWER OF ATTORNEY

        The undersigned officer and/or director of Mesaba Holdings,
Inc. hereby constitutes and appoints Bryan K. Bedford and John S.
fredericksen, or either of them, with power to act without the
other, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full
power of substituition and resubstituition, for him and in his
stead, in any and all capacities to sign Form 10-K of Mesaba
Holdings, Inc. for the year ended March 31, 1997, pursuant to the
requirements of Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and
other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and
agent, full power and authority to do and perform each and every
act and thing necessary or advisable to be done in connection
therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or
could do in person, herby ratifying and confiming all that said
attorney-in-fact and agent, or his substitute or substitutes, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue herof.

Dated: June 20, 1997
                           Signed: /s/ Donald A. Washburn 
                                  ---------------------------
                                       Donald A. Washburn

<PAGE>


                           POWER OF ATTORNEY

        The undersigned officer and/or director of Mesaba Holdings,
Inc. hereby constitutes and appoints Bryan K. Bedford and John S.
fredericksen, or either of them, with power to act without the
other, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full
power of substituition and resubstituition, for him and in his
stead, in any and all capacities to sign Form 10-K of Mesaba
Holdings, Inc. for the year ended March 31, 1997, pursuant to the
requirements of Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and
other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and
agent, full power and authority to do and perform each and every
act and thing necessary or advisable to be done in connection
therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or
could do in person, herby ratifying and confiming all that said
attorney-in-fact and agent, or his substitute or substitutes, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue herof.

Dated: June 30, 1997
                           Signed: /s/  Raymond W. Zehr, Jr.
                                  ---------------------------
                                       Raymond W. Zehr, Jr.