Chautauqua Airlines

Last updated
Chautauqua Airlines
Chautauqua Airlines 2014 Logo.svg
IATA ICAO Callsign
RPCHQCHAUTAUQUA
Founded1973
Ceased operationsDecember 31, 2014
Hubs As Delta Connection:
Frequent-flyer program SkyMiles
Alliance SkyTeam
Fleet size41
Destinations52
Parent company Republic Airways Holdings
Headquarters Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Key peopleBryan Bedford (CEO)
Website Archived official website at the Wayback Machine (archive index)

Chautauqua Airlines, Inc. was an American regional airline and a subsidiary of Republic Airways Holdings based in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. [1] Prior to the shut down of operations, it operated scheduled passenger services to 52 airports in the United States and Canada via code sharing agreements as the Delta Connection for Delta Air Lines, AmericanConnection for American Airlines, and United Express for United Airlines. Chautauqua previously flew feeder services for other airlines via code sharing agreements including Allegheny, USAir, TWA, Continental, Frontier, and America West. Its last day in operation was December 31, 2014, at which time all flying was absorbed by the Shuttle America certificate.

Contents

Chautauqua had crew bases at LaGuardia Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport, Louisville International Airport, and Port Columbus International Airport.

History

Frontier Express Embraer ERJ-145 operated by Chautauqua in 2011 N270SK.jpg
Frontier Express Embraer ERJ-145 operated by Chautauqua in 2011
American Connection Embraer ERJ-140 operated by Chautauqua in 2012 Embraer EMB-135KL (ERJ-140LR) American Connection (Chautauqua Airlines) N299SK (7295779272).jpg
American Connection Embraer ERJ-140 operated by Chautauqua in 2012
Republic Airways Holdings traces it roots to Chautauqua. See also: History of Republic Airways Holdings

The airline was established on May 3, 1973, in Jamestown, Chautauqua County, New York, USA, and started operations on August 1, 1974, using two 15-passenger Beechcraft 99 turboprop commuter aircraft. Chautauqua operated the Beechcraft 99 in Allegheny Commuter service and later as USAir Express. In 1984, the airline grew by adding five 19-passenger Fairchild Metro III aircraft to its fleet. In 1986, Chautauqua Airlines was purchased by GAC, an affiliate of Guarantee Security Life Insurance Company, and added twelve 30-passenger Saab 340 aircraft to replace slower Shorts 3-30s in the fleet. [2]

Chautauqua was historically significant for it was one of the last remaining companies still in business that once flew as a part of Allegheny Commuter, one of the first regional franchisee systems combining independent regional and commuter airlines, under one seemingly contiguous and seamless brand. It no longer services the Chautauqua County-Jamestown Airport from which it began.

Chautauqua was acquired by Wexford Management in January 1998 and was subsequently realigned under a holding company, Republic Airways Holdings.

Build up

In 1998, Chautauqua entered into an agreement with Embraer for the purchase of ten 50-seat Embraer ERJ-145 regional jet aircraft. In 1999, Chautauqua entered into a 10-year code-share agreement with Trans World Airlines to operate at least 15 ERJ-145s for the airline. In June 2001, American Airlines, who had purchased TWA, renewed the existing regional jet service with Chautauqua for feeder service at St. Louis using 44-seat ERJ-140 aircraft. In March 2001, Chautauqua entered into a partnership with America West to operate as an America West Express affiliate using 12 ERJ-145 jets in the Eastern United States, but ended this service in February 2003. In November 2002, Chautauqua began flying regional jet service to Florida for Delta Air Lines. In March 2004, United Airlines announced that Chautauqua Airlines would operate 16 50-seat regional jets for United Express. [2]

In 2004, Republic Airways Holdings announced a new jet-service agreement with US Airways for the operation of Embraer E170 and Embraer E190 aircraft. [2] Chautauqua was one of the first U.S. operators of the E170, but was forced to transfer these aircraft to sister company Shuttle America in 2005, after the pilots’ union at American Airlines claimed the aircraft violated a “scope clause” regulating the size of regional aircraft operated under American brands. In the first half of 2007, Chautauqua took delivery of 24 Bombardier CRJs and flew them under a code-share agreement with Continental Airlines. Some of these aircraft were previously owned by Atlantic Coast Airlines (Independence Air), and some were owned by Comair. Chautauqua eventually phased out all of its CRJ aircraft. [3]

A Fairchild 340A of Chautauqua Airlines in 2001 Saab-Fairchild SF-340A, Trans World Express (Chautauqua Airlines) AN0963612.jpg
A Fairchild 340A of Chautauqua Airlines in 2001

In early 2006, Chautauqua opened its new aircraft maintenance complex, capable of holding nine aircraft, at Louisville International Airport in Louisville, Kentucky. Maintenance was performed in Indianapolis, Columbus, Louisville, and St. Louis. The ERJ-135/140/145 heavy ("C-check") maintenance was performed in Columbus. [4]

In April 2010, the Federal Aviation Administration proposed a US$348,000 fine against Chautauqua Airlines for allegedly not performing required inspections for three years. [5] The FAA alleged that the airline flew an Embraer 145 jet for 43 days past the time one of its inertial navigation units should have been replaced.

Wind down

In October 2012, Republic Airways Holdings reworked a deal with partner Delta Air Lines, part of the company's broader effort to trim costs and boost revenue amid a decline in demand for regional airline service, to operate seven additional 50-seat Embraer 145 planes under the Delta Connection brand. [6]

In the spring of 2014, Republic Airways Holdings announced that it would begin to pull down much of Chautauqua's flying. Specifically, it would not renew its contract with United Airlines to fly ERJ-145s out of Cleveland and that it would ground all 14 ERJ-145s on April 1, in response to a shortage of qualified pilots. This was shortly followed by an announcement that it would also not seek renewal of its AmericanConnection contract. Chautauqua's operation as AmericanConnection ended on August 18, 2014.

On July 28, 2014, Republic Airways Holdings announced that Chautauqua Airlines would be absorbed into Shuttle America "by year-end" to reduce costs. Chautauqua's only remaining aircraft, 41 ERJ-145s, were transferred to the Shuttle America operating certificate, [7] effectively abandoning Chautauqua's operating certificate. On December 31, 2014, Chautauqua operated its last flight for Delta Connection. All crew and maintenance bases were absorbed by the Shuttle America certificate.

Awards

YearOrganizationAward
2004
Air Transport World (ATW) Industry Achievement AwardsRegional Airline of the Year [8]
2004
Regional Airline WorldRegional Airline of the Year [9]
2004
Regional Airline WorldAirline Executive of the Year (President & CEO Bryan Bedford) [9]
2006
Flight InternationalAviation Excellence Award [10]
2008
Air Transport World (ATW) Industry Achievement AwardsRegional Airline of the Year [8]

See also

Related Research Articles

Eugene Airport Airport in near Eugene, Oregon

Eugene Airport, also known as Mahlon Sweet Field, is a public airport 7 miles (11 km) northwest of Eugene, in Lane County, Oregon, United States. Owned and operated by the city of Eugene, it is the fifth-largest airport in the Pacific Northwest.

SkyWest Airlines is an American regional airline headquartered in St. George, Utah, United States. SkyWest is paid to staff, operate and maintain aircraft used on flights that are scheduled, marketed and sold by a partner mainline airline. The airline is contracted by Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines. In all, it is the largest regional airline in North America when measured by fleet size, number of passengers carried, and number of destinations served.

United Express is the brand name for the regional branch of United Airlines, under which six individually owned regional airlines operate short- and medium-haul feeder flights.

Continental Express was the operating brand name used by a number of independently owned regional airlines providing commuter airliner and regional jet feeder service under agreement with Continental Airlines. In 2012 at the time of the merger between Continental and United Airlines, two carriers were operating using the Continental Express brand name:

America West Express was the name for America West Airlines commuter and regional flights operated by Mesa Air Group's Mesa Airlines under a code share agreement. Today Mesa Airlines operates for American Eagle.

Panama City–Bay County International Airport was a public airport 3 miles (4.8 km) northwest of Panama City, in Bay County, Florida. It was owned and operated by the Panama City–Bay County Airport and Industrial District. All airline services moved to the Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport on May 22, 2010, but the airfield was open to general aviation aircraft until October 1, 2010. The grounds will eventually be turned over to LUK-MB1 LLC, which plans to remove the runways and build homes, shops, walking trails and a marina.

Mesa Airlines, Inc. is an American regional airline based in Phoenix, Arizona. It is an FAA Part 121-certificated air carrier operating under air carrier certificate number MASA036A issued on June 29, 1979. It is a subsidiary of Mesa Air Group and operates flights as American Eagle and United Express via respective code sharing agreements with American Airlines and United Airlines. It serves more than 180 markets in the Western Hemisphere. In a 1997 article from the Journal of Air Transportation, Mesa's safety record was noted as having the fewest incidents among domestic regional airlines at that time. Mesa filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in January 2010, hoping to shed financial obligations for leases on airplanes it no longer needed and emerged from bankruptcy in March 2011. In November 2017, Mesa opened a new training center in Phoenix. The 23,000-square-foot facility features a full-size CRJ-200 cabin trainer aircraft, 14 classrooms, and has the capacity to train 300 crew members at one time.

Corpus Christi International Airport is 6 miles west of Corpus Christi, in Nueces County, Texas. It opened in 1960, replacing Cliff Maus airport at 27.767°N 97.44°W, where the Lozano Golf Center is now.

Lafayette Regional Airport Airport in Lafayette Parish, Louisiana

Lafayette Regional Airport is a public use airport two miles (4 km) southeast of Lafayette, in Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, United States. It is owned and operated by the City Parish of Lafayette.

Jack Brooks Regional Airport, formerly Southeast Texas Regional Airport, is near Port Arthur, Texas, nine miles (14 km) southeast of Beaumont and northeast of Port Arthur. It was Jefferson County Airport, but its name was changed to honor former U.S. Representative Jack Brooks. The airport is southwest of the city of Nederland in unincorporated Jefferson County, and is used for general aviation. Southwest Airlines ended scheduled jet service in 1980 and several other airlines have started and ended service as well including American Eagle, Continental, Delta/Delta Connection and United Express. The latest chapter is the resumption of service by American Eagle for American Airlines to Dallas/Ft. Worth (DFW).

Shuttle America

Shuttle America Corporation was an American regional airline based in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. It fed United Airlines flights at Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) and Houston Intercontinental Airport (IAH) under the United Express brand, as well as Delta Air Lines flights at Atlanta (ATL), New York-LaGuardia (LGA), and New York-JFK under the Delta Connection brand. Shuttle America also operated two of three Delta Shuttle East Coast routes, serving Washington, D.C. and Chicago from New York-LaGuardia.

Republic Airways Inc. is a regional airline subsidiary of Republic Airways Holdings that operates service as American Eagle, Delta Connection, and United Express using a fleet of Embraer 170 and Embraer 175 regional jets. It is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. Its call sign "Brickyard" is derived from the nickname of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport Regional airport serving the city of San Luis Obispo, California, United States

San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport, McChesney Field is a civil airport near San Luis Obispo, California, United States. Three passenger airlines serve the airport with nonstop flights to eight cities: Dallas-Fort Worth, Denver, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Portland, San Diego, San Francisco and Seattle. The airport was established in 1939 and used by the U.S. military between 1939 and 1945.

Flagstaff Pulliam Airport Airport in Coconino County, Arizona

Flagstaff Pulliam Airport is 5 miles south of Flagstaff, in Coconino County, Arizona, United States. The airport is serviced by American Eagle and United Express, and is also used for general aviation. Federal Aviation Administration records say the airport had 51,765 passenger boardings (enplanements) in calendar year 2008, 66,627 in 2009 and 62,109 in 2010. The National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2011–2015 called it a "primary commercial service" airport. It is the closest airport to Grand Canyon National Park with service by legacy carriers.

Durango–La Plata County Airport Airport in Durango, Colorado, USA

Durango–La Plata County Airport is a city- and county-owned public airport 12 miles southeast of Durango, in La Plata County, Colorado.

ExpressJet Airline of the United States

ExpressJet Airlines is a regional U.S. airline headquartered in College Park, Georgia. The company originally operated as a contracted codeshare partner, flying under the American Eagle, Delta Connection and United Express brands at various points in history. In September 2020, it exited that longstanding position in the fee-for-departure airline market and temporarily ceased all flying after the conclusion of a contract with its sole remaining mainline partner United Airlines. As of September 2021, ExpressJet has resumed operations as both an air charter provider and a regional airline under its own brand aha!—short for "Air-Hotel-Adventure." The brand's route structure is focused on the West Coast of the United States with a hub at Reno-Tahoe International Airport, and scheduled flights began on October 24, 2021.

Freedom Airlines, Inc. was an American FAA Part 121 certificated air carrier operating under air carrier certificate number FDKA087K issued on April 1, 2002. The Nevada Corporation was headquartered in Irving, Texas and a subsidiary of Mesa Air Group. It operated flights as Delta Connection for Delta Air Lines serving Delta's hub at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport in Hebron, KY, near Cincinnati, OH using EMB 145 aircraft. Freedom's base moved to Cincinnati from New York City in July 2009. Freedom previously operated the CRJ-900 aircraft for Delta Connection as well; however, this contract was canceled and all aircraft were transferred to Eagan, MN-based Mesaba Airlines, Atlanta, GA-based Atlantic Southeast Airlines, and Pinnacle Airlines.

Republic Airways Holdings Airline of the United States

Republic Airways Holdings, Inc. is an American airline holding corporation based in Indianapolis, Indiana, that owns Republic Airways, an American regional airline operating in the United States, and LIFT Academy, the only flight training academy owned by an airline in the United States.

Delta Connection is a regional airline brand name for Delta Air Lines, under which a number of individually owned regional airlines primarily operate short- and medium-haul routes. Mainline major air carriers often use regional airlines to operate services via code sharing agreements in order to increase frequencies in addition to serving routes that would not sustain larger aircraft as well as for other competitive or operational reasons.

American Eagle is a US brand name for the regional branch of American Airlines, under which six individual regional airlines operate short- and medium-haul feeder flights. Three of these airlines, Envoy Air, Piedmont Airlines, and PSA Airlines, are wholly owned subsidiaries of the American Airlines Group. American Eagle's largest hub is Charlotte Douglas International's Concourse E, which operates over 340 flights per day, making it the largest express flight operation in the world.

References

  1. "Contact Us". Republic Airways Holdings. Archived from the original on April 30, 2009. Retrieved May 19, 2009.
  2. 1 2 3 "Chautauqua Airlines History". Republic Airways Holdings. Archived from the original on June 20, 2012. Retrieved November 10, 2012.
  3. "Chautauqua Airlines to phase out the seven CRJ200s operated for Continental Airlines". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved November 10, 2012.
  4. "Chautauqua breaking ground on airport expansion". Business First. American City Business Journals. March 8, 2005.
  5. Stoller, Gary (April 28, 2010). "Chautauqua Airlines accused of maintenance violations". USA Today.
  6. "Republic adjusts regional flying relationship with Delta". thedeal.com. Archived from the original on February 4, 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2012.
  7. "Shuttle America to absorb Chautauqua Airlines" . Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  8. 1 2 "ATW Industry Achievement Awards Description & History". Air Transport World. Archived from the original on 2009-04-17. Retrieved 2008-04-10.
  9. 1 2 "Republic Airways". Archived from the original on 2012-08-30. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
  10. "Chautauqua Airlines Receives Aviation Excellence Award From Flight International" (PDF) (Press release). February 24, 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 30, 2012. Retrieved April 15, 2008.