Air Choice One

Last updated
Air Choice One
Air Choice One Logo.png
IATA ICAO Callsign
3EACOWEBER
Founded1979 (as Multi-Aero Corporation)
Commenced operations2010
Ceased operations2022
AOC # MUIA594G
Hubs
Frequent-flyer program Choice Plus
Fleet size3
Destinations3
Parent company Southern Airways Corporation
Multi-Aero, Inc.
Headquarters St. Louis, Missouri United States
Key peopleShane Storz (President)
Employees25 (13 pilots)
Website airchoiceone.com

Multi-Aero, Inc., doing business as Air Choice One, a division of Southern Airways Corporation, was an American commuter airline with its headquarters in Concord, Missouri, within the Greater St. Louis area. [1] It operated as a regional airline offering commuter flights from St. Louis Lambert International Airport to smaller regional airports, subsidized under the Essential Air Service program. [2] Air Choice One's callsign, "Weber," is in honor of Mike Weber, the airline's first Chief Pilot.

Contents

History

Multi-Aero was founded in 1979 under the name Multi-Aero Corporation. [3] In October 2009, Air Choice One won the EAS contract to serve Decatur, Illinois, [4] and Burlington, Iowa. [5]

Air Choice One was awarded its first EAS contract to replace [6] SeaPort Airlines in Jonesboro, Arkansas in December 2011. [7] In January 2013, the DOT granted Air Choice One a three-year contract extension for both Decatur, Illinois, [8] and Burlington, Iowa. [9] As a stipulation for obtaining both extensions, Air Choice One implemented systems for electronic ticketing and baggage agreements via WorldSpan (a part of the global distribution system, or GDS) in December 2012. [8] This allows passengers to book tickets with connections to and from other major airlines on popular travel websites in a "one-click" process, as opposed to buying tickets at one airline and then having to book tickets with another on two separate confirmations.

On December 21, 2017, Air Choice One was granted a four-year contract extension in Burlington, Iowa, and was not selected for another term in Decatur, marking the end of Air Choice One's nearly eight years of service to Decatur Airport. [10]

On March 14, 2018, the airline passed the FAA mandated proving runs with its Beechcraft 1900C, meaning that the aircraft is now approved to be used in daily line operations. Air Choice One began operating the aircraft between Fort Dodge, Iowa and both Minneapolis and St. Louis in May 2018 and continues to bid on other essential air service routes proposing to use the Beechcraft 1900.

Effective February 1, 2019, the 3-letter ICAO prefix changed from WBR to ACO. [11] In March 2019, the airline started utilizing InteliSys' ameliaRES reservation system. This system provides Passenger Service System (PSS) and departure control systems (DCS), reservation management, codeshare, interline and real-time inventory control. [12]

Air Choice One began a new frequent flyer program in early 2020 named Choice Plus. Customers can earn points from flying and redeem them on future flights. The airline does not participate in any significant global airline alliances, nor does it have any codeshare agreements. Also, in early 2020, the airline added the ability for web check-in and mobile compatibility for passengers. [13]

Air Choice One has flown cargo seasonally during peak season for United Parcel Service from Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport, Raleigh–Durham International Airport and Manchester-Boston Regional Airport. [14] [15] [16]

In March 2021, Air Choice One fully integrated TSA PreCheck into their customer booking experience, allowing passengers to use a Known Traveler Number (KTN) for expedited and simplified security screening. [17]

In August 2021, the Burlington airport board voted to recommend Cape Air to take over the EAS contract for Burlington, IA. [18] In September 2021 the Jonesboro airport board voted to recommend to keep Air Choice One in JBR with the possibility of two destinations, St. Louis as well as adding Nashville service. In December 2021 the DOT granted a four year contract extension and approved the new Nashville service which started March 1, 2022. [19]

On March 28, 2022, it was announced that Air Choice One would be bought by the Southern Airways Corporation, the parent company of Southern Airways Express. It was initially planned that the two air operator certificates would be kept separate. [20]

On July 2, 2022, Southern Airways Corporation closed the Air Choice One website and decided to discontinue the Air Choice One service, bringing the company's aircraft and operations to the SAC operator certificate. All remaining flights were transferred to the Southern Airways Express brand.

Destinations

CityAirportIATA codeDestinationsNotes
Flag of Arkansas.svg Arkansas
Jonesboro Jonesboro Municipal Airport JBRSt. Louis
Nashville [21] 		EAS Community | Community will be branded as Southern by mid-summer 2022 [22]
Flag of Missouri.svg Missouri
St. Louis St. Louis Lambert International Airport STLJonesboroHub
Flag of Tennessee.svg Tennessee
Nashville Nashville International Airport BNAJonesboro

Former Destinations

CityAirportIATA codeDestinationsNotes
Flag of Florida.svg Florida
Destin Destin Executive Airport DTSJacksonSeasonal
Flag of Georgia (U.S. state).svg Georgia
Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport ATLJackson
Flag of Illinois.svg Illinois
Chicago O'Hare International Airport ORDBurlington
Decatur Decatur Airport DECChicago O'Hare
St. Louis		EAS Community | Contract awarded to Cape Air
Flag of Iowa.svg Iowa
Burlington Southeast Iowa Regional Airport BRLChicago O'Hare
St. Louis		EAS Community | Cape Air awarded contract
Fort Dodge Fort Dodge Regional Airport FODMason City
Minneapolis
St. Louis		EAS Community | SkyWest Airlines awarded contract

[23]

Mason City Mason City Municipal Airport MCWBurlington
Minneapolis
Chicago O'Hare		EAS Community | SkyWest Airlines awarded contract

[24]

Flag of Michigan.svg Michigan
Ironwood Gogebic-Iron County Airport IWDChicago O'Hare
Minneapolis		EAS Community | Boutique Air awarded contract
Flag of Minnesota.svg Minnesota
Minneapolis Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport MSPFort Dodge
Ironwood
Mason City
Flag of Missouri.svg Missouri
Kirksville Kirksville Airport STLSt. LouisEAS Community | Cape Air awarded contract
Flag of Tennessee.svg Tennessee
Jackson McKellar-Sipes Regional Airport MKLAtlanta
Destin
St. Louis		EAS Community | Boutique Air awarded contract

Fleet

Air Choice One Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX Air Choice One - Cessna Caravan 208B EX.jpg
Air Choice One Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX
Three Air Choice One aircraft on their hangar's ramp at STL Air Choice One - Hangar Ramp Aircraft.jpg
Three Air Choice One aircraft on their hangar's ramp at STL

Prior to closure, Air Choice One operated the following aircraft: [25]

Air Choice One fleet
AircraftIn fleetOrdersPassengersNotes
Beechcraft 1900C 109Currently configured for 9 with intent for 19 upon FAA approval expected Q2 2022
Cessna 208B Grand Caravan 208Two aircraft have the ability to be converted to all-cargo configuration.
Total30

At the peak of Air Choice One's operation they operated 12 Cessna 208B (N732MD, N1983X, N1258B, N4118K, N208EE, N750Z, N803F, N107KA, N942AC, N943AC, N91AC, N958AC) and 1 Beechcraft 1900C (N165LC) aircraft.

Choice Plus

Air Choice One had a frequent flyer program called Choice Plus. Customers that sign up for the program could earn points on every Air Choice One flight when they enter their rewards number. Depending on the fare chosen, a different percentage of points would be applied. [26]

For every dollar spent, one point is earned. These points would expire after two years.

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References

  1. ↑ "Facebook - Info.". Retrieved on July 19, 2011. "12300 Old Tesson Road Suite 200-F St. Louis 63128"
  2. ↑ "Air Choice One begins offering flights to St. Louis". Kirksville Daily Express. 2008-08-01. Archived from the original on 2009-08-26. Retrieved 2009-08-26.
  3. ↑ "About Air Choice One - The Company". Air Choice One. Archived from the original on 2010-02-14. Retrieved 2009-08-26.
  4. ↑ Freeman, Huey. Decatur a step closer to restoring air service to O'Hare, Herald & Review, October 23, 2009, Retrieved 2009-10-23
  5. ↑ Crippes, Christina Regional airport gets choice of new carrier, The Hawk Eye, October 23, 2009, Retrieved 2009-10-27
  6. ↑ "Air Choice One to fly into Jonesboro as new EAS carrier". HarrisonDaily.com. Retrieved 2012-01-03.
  7. ↑ "Air Choice One JBR Flight Schedule" (PDF). Air Choice One. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-04-30. Retrieved 2012-01-03.
  8. 1 2 Voyles, Ryan Way cleared for Air Choice One to serve Decatur for three more years, Herald Review, January 8, 2013, Retrieved 2013-02-24
  9. ↑ Air Choice One has been granted a three-year extension to its current Department of Transportation Essential Air Service Contract which provides air service for the community of Burlington [ permanent dead link ], Fort Madison Daily Democrat, January 11, 2013, Retrieved 2013-02-24
  10. ↑ "Regulations.gov". regulations.gov. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  11. ↑ "FAA Orders & Notices" (PDF). www.faa.gov. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
  12. ↑ "InteliSys Aviation Welcomes Air Choice One to the Amelia Family". www.airchoiceone.com. Retrieved 20 February 2019.
  13. ↑ DELT. "Air Choice One Airlines Enhances Booking Capabilities with Technological Advancements". Air Choice One. Retrieved 2021-05-31.
  14. ↑ "FlightAware". FlightAware. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  15. ↑ "FlightAware". FlightAware. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  16. ↑ "FlightAware". FlightAware.
  17. ↑ DELT. "Air Choice One Participates in TSA PreCheck® for Customer Convenience". Air Choice One. Retrieved 2021-05-31.
  18. ↑ Anderson, Laigha. "Southeast Iowa Regional Airport seeks to switch from Air Choice One to Cape Air. Here's what it means". The Hawk Eye. Retrieved 2021-09-19.
  19. ↑ Williams, Imani. "Jonesboro Municipal Airport may add a new destination". www.kait8.com. Retrieved 2021-09-19.
  20. ↑ DELT. "Multi-Aero Inc. d/b/a Air Choice One to be Acquired by Southern Airways Corporation". Air Choice One. Retrieved 2022-03-28.
  21. ↑ "Air Choice One Gets Renewed for Four Years in Jonesboro". Air Choice One. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
  22. ↑ himself; Cream, The First Thing He Did with the License Was Get Ice; Management, go plane spotting for the entire day When he has the timehe likes to take spotting trips to any location worth a visit He’s currently enrolled at Western Michigan University earning a degree in Aviation; Operations. (2022-03-28). "Breaking: Southern Airways Express Acquires Air Choice One – AirlineGeeks.com". AirlineGeeks.com – LIVE. LOVE. AVIATION. Retrieved 2022-05-24.
  23. ↑ "Jet service to return to Fort Dodge". messengernews.net. Retrieved 2021-01-03.
  24. ↑ Gazette, Jared McNett Globe. "Mason City Airport confirms new air service". Globe Gazette | Mason City, Iowa | globegazette.com. Retrieved 2021-01-03.
  25. ↑ "Federal Aviation Administration - Airline Certificate Information - Detail View". av-info.faa.gov. Retrieved 2021-10-20.
  26. ↑ DELT. "Join Our Rewards Program". Air Choice One. Retrieved 2021-11-20.

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