Contour Airlines

Contour Airlines

IATA ICAO Call sign LF VTE VOLUNTEER
Founded	2016
Commenced operations	March 22, 2016;8 years ago (2016-03-22)
AOC #	FJTA920D [1]
Hubs	Charlotte Chicago Nashville Philadelphia Phoenix
Fleet size	31
Destinations	28 [2]
Parent company	Contour Aviation (75%) SkyWest, Inc. (25%)
Headquarters	Smyrna, Tennessee, United States
Key people	Matt Chaifetz (CEO) [3]
Employees	800 (approx.)
Website	contourairlines.com

Contour Airlines is an independent regional airline headquartered at Smyrna Airport in Smyrna, Tennessee, United States. ^[4]

Contour Airlines is set up as a public charter operator for regulatory purposes and does not directly operate aircraft. Contour Airlines charters 30-seat regional jets operated by its parent company, Contour Aviation, then resells seats on those aircraft to the public. The arrangement allows Contour to utilize pilots who are qualified to operate charter services, who can be either less experienced or older than allowed on commercial passenger flights. ^[5]

History

Contour Airlines was established by its parent company Contour Aviation in 2016. Contour began service on March 22, 2016, completing its inaugural flight from Nashville to Tupelo, Mississippi. Since then, Contour has expanded to 20 destinations nationwide, focusing on providing key business and leisure markets previously underserved with nonstop short-haul routes. ^[6]

On April 1, 2019, Contour retired its Jetstream 31/32 fleet and focused solely on ERJ-135/145 aircraft.

On February 5, 2020, Contour Airlines announced that it would add Indianapolis as a focus city and purchase additional ERJ-135/145 aircraft. The goal was to provide efficient service to markets within driving distance but without direct flights to capture travelers who would rather drive than fly with a layover. ^[7] The airline planned to serve Nashville, Pittsburgh and St. Louis from Indianapolis beginning June 10, 2020, ^[8] however, the service had been suspended indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. ^[9] On July 28, 2021, Contour announced its relaunch in Indianapolis, beginning on October 12 and flying to Milwaukee, Nashville, and Pittsburgh. ^[10] However, Contour quietly dropped Milwaukee and Pittsburgh less than three months later. ^[11] According to Contour CEO Matt Chaifetz, the Indianapolis to Milwaukee route averaged 40% full and was climbing, but stalled in the winter due to fears over the omicron variant. ^[7] He said "the timing was just poor" for the new routes but said, "We're still committed to Indianapolis." ^[7]

Contour Airlines announced that it had returned to pre-COVID numbers in Tupelo, having more than 12,000 boardings in 2022. This helps increase funds granted by the FAA to Tupelo Airport, up from $150,000 to $1,000,000. ^[12]

On April 20, 2023, the Department of Transportation approved Contour Airlines' bid to replace Cape Air at Veterans Airport of Southern Illinois in Marion, Illinois. Contour will connect the airport to O'Hare International Airport starting August 1, 2023. ^[13] The contract is set to last three years. ^[14]

Contour Airlines CRJ-200LR at Charlotte Douglas International Airport

Due to inflation, Cape Air opted in late 2022 to cease operations out of Owensboro before the end of their contract, which was scheduled to end in 2023. Contour Airlines was chosen to replace Cape Air and commence operations to and from Charlotte. ^[15] However, both Contour Airlines and Owensboro Airport later decided to change the twelve Owensboro flights per week to go to Chicago O'Hare International Airport instead of Charlotte, which the Department of Transportation approved on May 30, 2023. ^[16] The service started on August 1, 2023. ^[17]

In early 2024, regional carrier SkyWest Airlines purchased a 25% ownership stake in Contour Airlines to gain access to its infrastructure, personnel, and operational expertise as it launches its own Part 135 operation, SkyWest Charter. SkyWest also plans to supply Contour with CRJ200 aircraft and partner with the airline to both recruit young pilots and provide opportunities to pilots who would otherwise need to retire due to age. ^{[18] [19]}

October 1, 2024 marked change for some routes. Contour now flies to Show Low ^[20] and Manistee from Phoenix and Chicago, respectively. Altoona used to connect to Philadelphia, but now connects to Charlotte. ^[21] Fort Leonard Wood and Cape Girardeau used to connect to Nashville but Chicago replaced Nashville. ^[22] Contour no longer flies to Ogdensburg as Breeze Airways has replaced the airline, now flying to Washington Dulles Airport. ^[23]

Corporate affairs

As of 2024, Contour Airlines employs approximately 800 people across its operations. Matt Chaifetz is the current President & Chief Executive Officer and has been leading the company since its founding in 2016. ^[24] Kelly Ginn is the senior Executive Vice President responsible for the oversight and support of personnel needs at Contour. ^[24] She was originally part of Corporate Flight Management before the company restructured into what is now Contour Airlines.

Contour currently employs nearly 200 pilots, all reporting to Greg Engel, the Chief Pilot. The company's flight dispatchers and flight coordinators who work in the Systems Operations Control Center (SOC) are not unionized.

Unlike some larger airlines, Contour Airlines maintains a relatively small and nimble workforce, the total number of employees being just over 800. The majority of its non-pilot staff, including ground crew, reservations agents, flight operations staff, and maintenance personnel, are non-unionized. This structure allows the airline to maintain flexibility in its operations and adapt quickly to changing market conditions.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Contour Airlines, like many other carriers, faced challenges. ^[25] However, due to its focus on essential air service routes and regional markets, the company was able to navigate the crisis without significant layoffs. As air travel has rebounded, Contour has been actively recruiting to support its growth and expansion into new markets.

Personnel

The airline's leadership team is composed of the following executives: ^[24]

• Matt Chaifetz, President & CEO
• Kelly Ginn, Executive Vice President of Finance
• Lee Harris, Executive Vice President of Flight Operations
• Aaron Armstrong, Executive Vice President of Maintenance
• Rick Berry, Senior Vice President of Human Resources
• David Woodard, Vice President of Airport Operations
• Sybilla Slavin, Vice President of Charter Operations
• Matt Ostermann, Vice President of FBO Operations
• Collette Hilliary, Vice President of Inflight Services
• John Masters, Vice President of Maintenance Operations
• VACANT – Vice President of Safety & Compliance
• VACANT – Vice President of Government Services

Corporate headquarters

Contour Airlines' Corporate Headquarters is located at 808 Blue Angel Way, on the grounds of Smyrna Airport (MQY) in Smyrna, Tennessee, a suburb of Nashville. The facility serves as the nerve center for the airline's operations and administrative functions. In addition, it is the home of the Systems Operations Control Center (SOC), the Inflight Services Training Center (IFS), the Reservations Call Center (RES), and various other administrative offices. This centralized location allows for efficient coordination between different departments, supporting Contour Airlines' operations across its network.

Destinations

As of October 2024 ^[update] , Contour Airlines operates flights serving the following destinations: ^{[26] [27]}

City	Airport	IATA Code	Destinations	Notes
Alabama
Muscle Shoals	Northwest Alabama Regional Airport	MSL	Charlotte	AEAS community
Arizona
Page	Page Municipal Airport	PGA	Phoenix	AEAS community
Phoenix	Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport	PHX	Moab Page Show Low [28] Vernal
Show Low	Show Low Regional Airport	SOW	Phoenix	AEAS community
Georgia
Macon	Middle Georgia Regional Airport	MCN	Baltimore	AEAS community
Illinois
Chicago	O'Hare International Airport	ORD	Kirksville Manistee Marion Owensboro Cape Girardeau [29] Fort Leonard Wood [29]
Marion	Veterans Airport of Southern Illinois	MWA	Chicago/O'Hare	EAS community
Kentucky
Paducah	Barkley Regional Airport	PAH	Charlotte	EAS community
Owensboro	Owensboro-Daviess County Regional Airport	OWB	Chicago/O'Hare	EAS community
Maryland
Baltimore	Baltimore/Washington International Airport	BWI	Macon
Michigan
Manistee	Manistee County Blacker Airport	MBL	Chicago/O'Hare	AEAS community
Mississippi
Greenville	Greenville Mid-Delta Airport	GLH	Dallas/Fort Worth	AEAS community
Tupelo	Tupelo Regional Airport	TUP	Nashville Dallas/Fort Worth	AEAS community
Missouri
Cape Girardeau	Cape Girardeau Regional Airport	CGI	Chicago [29]	EAS community
Fort Leonard Wood	Waynesville-St. Robert Regional Airport	TBN	Chicago/O'Hare [29] Dallas/Fort Worth	EAS community
Kirksville	Kirksville Regional Airport	IRK	Chicago/O'Hare	EAS community
New York
Plattsburgh	Plattsburgh International Airport	PBG	Philadelphia	AEAS community
North Carolina
Charlotte	Charlotte Douglas International Airport	CLT	Altoona [30] Beckley Clarksburg Lewisburg Muscle Shoals Paducah Parkersburg (via Beckley) Shenandoah
Pennsylvania
Altoona	Altoona–Blair County Airport	AOO	Charlotte [30]	AEAS community
Philadelphia	Philadelphia International Airport	PHL	Plattsburgh
Tennessee
Nashville	Nashville International Airport	BNA	Tupelo Dallas-Fort Worth (via Tupelo)
Texas
Dallas/Fort Worth	Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport	DFW	Greenville (MS) Fort Leonard Wood Nashville (via Tupelo)
Utah
Moab	Canyonlands Regional Airport	CNY	Phoenix	AEAS community
Vernal	Vernal Regional Airport	VEL	Phoenix	AEAS community
Virginia
Shenandoah	Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport	SHD	Charlotte	EAS community
West Virginia
Beckley	Raleigh County Airport	BKW	Charlotte Parkersburg	AEAS community
Clarksburg	North Central West Virginia Airport	CKB	Charlotte	EAS community
Lewisburg	Greenbrier Valley Airport	LWB	Charlotte	EAS community
Parkersburg	Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport	PKB	Beckley Charlotte (via Beckley)	AEAS community

Discontinued destinations

City	Airport	IATA Code	Destinations	Notes
California
Crescent City	Del Norte County Airport	CEC	Oakland	Replaced by Advanced Air on March 17, 2024. [31]
Oakland	Oakland International Airport	OAK	Crescent City	Replaced by Advanced Air on March 17, 2024. [31]
Palm Springs	Palm Springs International Airport	PSP	Sacramento (Seasonal)	Ended due to COVID-19 pandemic
Sacramento	Sacramento International Airport	SMF	Palm Springs (Seasonal) Santa Barbara	Ended due to COVID-19 pandemic
San Luis Obispo	San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport	SBP	Las Vegas	Ended due to COVID-19 pandemic
Santa Barbara	Santa Barbara Municipal Airport	SBA	Las Vegas Oakland Sacramento	Ended due to COVID-19 pandemic [32]
Florida
Destin	Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport	VPS	Bowling Green	Ended due to low demand
Tampa	Tampa International Airport	TPA	Charlotte Macon	Ended due to low demand [33]
Georgia
Atlanta	Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport	ATL	Bowling Green	Ended due to low demand [34]
Kentucky
Bowling Green	Bowling Green–Warren County Regional Airport	BWG	Atlanta Destin-Fort Walton	Ended due to low demand [34]
Missouri
St. Louis	St. Louis Lambert International Airport	STL	Fort Leonard Wood
Nevada
Las Vegas	Harry Reid International Airport	LAS	Page San Luis Obispo Santa Barbara	Ended due to COVID-19 pandemic
New York
Ogdensburg	Ogdensburg International Airport	OGS	Philadelphia	Replaced by Breeze Airways on October 1st, 2024. [35]
Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh	Pittsburgh International Airport	PIT	Indianapolis Milwaukee	Ended due to low demand
Wisconsin
Milwaukee	Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport	MKE	Indianapolis Pittsburgh	Ended due to low demand

Fleet

Contour Airlines ERJ 135 at Baltimore/Washington International Airport

Contour uses a variety of regional jets in a 30-seat configuration under the Corporate Flight Management certificate.^{[ citation needed ]}

Contour Airlines fleet

Aircraft	In Service	Passengers	Notes
Embraer ERJ-135	10	30	Owned and operated by Contour Aviation
Embraer ERJ-140	7
Embraer ERJ-145	3
Bombardier CRJ-100	1
Bombardier CRJ-200	10
Fleet total	31

Services

Interline agreement

Contour has an interline agreement with American Airlines since October 2019, ^[36] allowing passengers to travel via Contour and American under a single itinerary. Bookings can be made through third-party travel agencies, through the American Airlines website, or directly through the Contour Airlines website. ^[37]

Since April 2024, Contour has an interline agreement with Alaska Airlines. ^[36] Passengers that book through Alaska Airlines are eligible to earn miles for Mileage Plan when flying Contour. ^[38]

Contour and United Airlines have a new interline agreement. ^[39] The partnership is expected to be in place starting October 2024. ^[40]

In-flight experience

Passengers traveling with Contour receive free seat selection and their first piece of checked baggage without charge on all fare classes. ^[41] All Contour flights feature leather seating, 36 inches of legroom, and complimentary in-flight snack and beverage service. ^[6]

References

1. "Advisory Circular AC 135-13K: FAA Certificated Air Carriers Directory" (PDF). August 23, 2002. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
2. "Contour Airlines Route Map". Contour Airlines. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
3. "About Corporate Flight Management – CFM". Contour Aviation. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
4. "Directory: World Airlines". Flight International . April 3, 2007. p. 69.
5. Lau, Stuart “Kipp” (October 2, 2023). "The Fight Against Public Charter Providers is Heating Up". Aviation International News. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
6. "Events Calendar".
7. "Indianapolis airport loses direct flights to Milwaukee, Pittsburgh after just 3 months". The Indianapolis Star.
8. BF Staff (February 5, 2020). "Contour To Add Airline Base At Indianapolis International Airport". Business Facilities. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
9. Airport, Indianapolis (April 22, 2020). "Enzo, thanks for reaching out. We're working closely with @ContourAirlines regarding their launch in the Indy market. Due to the impact of COVID-19 on the aviation industry as a whole, Contour's Indy inaugural flights have been pushed back to an undetermined time". @INDairport. Retrieved May 12, 2020.
10. Alex Brown (July 28, 2021). "Contour Airlines Resumes Indy Airport Plans". WISHTV. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
11. "Here today... Contour Airlines drops Indianapolis, Milwaukee flights after less than three months in Pittsburgh". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
12. Montgomery, Garner (January 18, 2023). "Contour Airlines: More than 12K boardings in 2022". WTVA. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
13. Heller, Marsha (April 21, 2023). "Contour Air selected for service at Veterans Airport in Marion, Ill". KFVS12. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
14. Fuller, Leanne (April 20, 2023). "Department of Transportation approves Contour as air service provider for Veterans Airport of Southern Illinois". WPSD Local 6. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
15. Richardson, Ryan (January 18, 2023). "OWB board recommends jet service to Charlotte; flights to Nashville and St. Louis would cease". The Owensboro Times. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
16. "ORDER APPROVING ALTERNATE SERVICE PATTERN" (PDF). downloads.regulations.gov. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
17. Richardson, Ryan (June 7, 2023). "OWB to offer daily jet service to Chicago starting August 1". The Owensboro Times. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
18. Hardee, Howard. "SkyWest acquires partial ownership of US charter operator Contour Airlines". Flight Global. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
19. Ewing, Ryan (February 2, 2024). "SkyWest Acquires Stake in Contour Airlines, Bolsters Charter Presence". AirlineGeeks.com. Firecrown. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
20. Department of Transportation (August 22, 2024). "2024-8-17 Order Setting Annual Service Levels and Total Costs Under the Alternate Essential Air Service Program" . Retrieved October 8, 2024.
21. Department of Transportation (July 3, 2024). "2024-7-3 Order Setting Annual Service Levels and Total Costs Under the Alternate Essential Air Service Program" . Retrieved October 8, 2024.
22. Department of Transportation (July 29, 2024). "2024-7-17 Order Approving Alternate Service Pattern" . Retrieved October 8, 2024.
23. Department of Transportation (September 17, 2024). "2024-9-12 Order Selecting Air Carrier" . Retrieved October 8, 2024.
24. "About Us". www.contouraviation.com. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
25. "Contour Airlines Suspends Service at San Luis Obispo County". www.slocounty.ca.gov. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
26. "Regulations.gov". www.regulations.gov. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
27. "Contour Airlines – Flight schedules". www.contourairlines.com. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
28. Department of Transportation (August 22, 2024). "2024-8-17 Order Setting Annual Service Levels and Total Costs Under the Alternate Essential Air Service Program". Regulations.gov. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
29. Department of Transportation (July 29, 2024). "2024-7-17 Order Approving Alternate Service Pattern". Regulations.gov. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
30. Department of Transportation (July 3, 2024). "2024-7-3 Order Setting Annual Service Levels and Total Costs Under the Alternate Essential Air Service Program". Regulations.gov. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
31. Gerardi, Joey (January 5, 2024). "Advanced Air to Operate U.S.'s Longest Dornier 328 Flight". Airline Geeks. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
32. McCormick, Grayce (December 17, 2020). "Southwest soaring to SB". Santa Barbara News-Press. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
33. "Macon Regional Airport ends Tampa flight, continues casino and Baltimore-Washington trips". WMAZ. March 22, 2019. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
34. By, WES SWIETEK (February 17, 2018). "Local Destin flights won't return". Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
35. Department of Transportation (September 17, 2024). "2024-9-12 Order Selecting Air Carrier". Regulations.gov. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
36. "Corporate Flight Management Inc. dba Contour Airlines (Proposal) Docket (DOT-OST-1997-2842)". Regulations.gov. May 16, 2024. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
37. "MOV Regional Airport eyes marketing". mariettatimes.com. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
38. "Contour Airlines". www.alaskaair.com. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
39. Newton, Carly (July 2, 2024). "Contour addresses operation questions". Press-Republican. Retrieved July 7, 2024.
40. Department of Transportation (July 3, 2024). "Corporate Flight Management Inc. dba Contour Airlines (Proposal)". Regulations.gov. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
41. "Contour Airlines". www.contourairlines.com. Archived from the original on May 6, 2020.

External links

• Official website