Contour Airlines

Last updated

Contour Airlines
Logo Contour Airlines.svg
IATA ICAO Callsign
LFVTEVOLUNTEER
Founded2016
Commenced operationsMarch 22, 2016;7 years ago (2016-03-22)
AOC # FJTA920D [1]
Hubs
Secondary hubs
Fleet size 19
Destinations 28 [2]
Parent company
Headquarters Smyrna, Tennessee, United States
Key peopleMatt Chaifetz (CEO) [3]
Website contourairlines.com

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

Contents

Contour Airlines is set up as 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]

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]

Destinations

As of January 2024, Contour Airlines operates flights serving the following destinations: [20] [21]

CityAirportIATA CodeDestinationsNotes
Flag of Alabama.svg Alabama
Muscle Shoals Northwest Alabama Regional Airport MSLCharlotte AEAS community
Flag of Arizona.svg Arizona
Page Page Municipal Airport PGAPhoenixAEAS community
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport PHXPage
Moab
Vernal
Flag of California.svg California
Crescent City Del Norte County Airport CECOaklandTo be replaced by Advanced Air starting March 17, 2024. [22]
Oakland Oakland International Airport OAKCrescent CityTo be replaced by Advanced Air starting March 17, 2024. [22]
Flag of Georgia (U.S. state).svg Georgia
Macon Middle Georgia Regional Airport MCNBaltimoreAEAS community
Flag of Illinois.svg Illinois
Chicago Chicago O'Hare International Airport ORDKirksville
Marion
Owensboro
Marion Veterans Airport of Southern Illinois MWAChicago/O'Hare EAS community
Flag of Kentucky.svg Kentucky
Paducah Barkley Regional Airport PAHCharlotteEAS community
Owensboro Owensboro-Daviess County Regional Airport OWBChicago/O'HareEAS community
Flag of Maryland.svg Maryland
Baltimore Baltimore-Washington International Airport BWIMacon
Flag of Mississippi.svg Mississippi
Greenville Greenville Mid-Delta Airport GLHDallas/Fort WorthAEAS community
Tupelo Tupelo Regional Airport TUPNashvilleAEAS community
Flag of Missouri.svg Missouri
Cape Girardeau Cape Girardeau Regional Airport CGINashvilleEAS community
Fort Leonard Wood Waynesville-St. Robert Regional Airport TBNNashville
Dallas
EAS community
Kirksville Kirksville Regional Airport IRKChicago/O'HareEAS community
Flag of New York.svg New York
Ogdensburg Ogdensburg International Airport OGSPhiladelphiaAEAS community
Plattsburgh Plattsburgh International Airport PBGPhiladelphiaAEAS community
Flag of North Carolina.svg North Carolina
Charlotte Charlotte Douglas International Airport CLTBeckley
Clarksburg
Muscle Shoals
Lewisburg
Paducah
Parkersburg
Shenandoah
Flag of Pennsylvania.svg Pennsylvania
Altoona Altoona–Blair County Airport AOOPhiladelphia [23] AEAS community
Philadelphia Philadelphia International Airport PHLAltoona
Ogdensburg
Plattsburgh
Flag of Tennessee.svg Tennessee
Nashville Nashville International Airport BNAFort Leonard Wood
Cape Girardeau
Tupelo
Flag of Texas.svg Texas
Dallas/Fort Worth Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport DFWGreenville (MS)
Fort Leonard Wood
Flag of Utah.svg Utah
Moab Canyonlands Regional Airport CNYPhoenixAEAS community
Vernal Vernal Regional Airport VELPhoenixAEAS community
Flag of Virginia.svg Virginia
Shenandoah Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport SHDCharlotteEAS community
Flag of West Virginia.svg West Virginia
Beckley Raleigh County Airport BKWCharlotte
Parkersburg
AEAS community
Clarksburg North Central West Virginia Airport CKBCharlotteEAS community
Lewisburg Greenbrier Valley Airport LWBCharlotteEAS community
Parkersburg Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport PKBBeckley
Charlotte
AEAS community

Former destinations

CityAirportIATA CodeDestinationsNotes
Flag of California.svg California
Crescent City Del Norte County Airport CECOaklandTo be replaced by Advanced Air starting March 17, 2024. [22]
Oakland Oakland International Airport OAKCrescent CityTo be replaced by Advanced Air starting March 17, 2024. [22]
Palm Springs Palm Springs International Airport PSPSacramento (Seasonal)Ended due to COVID-19 pandemic
Sacramento Sacramento International Airport SMFPalm Springs (Seasonal)
Santa Barbara
Ended due to COVID-19 pandemic
San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport SBPLas VegasEnded due to COVID-19 pandemic
Santa Barbara Santa Barbara Municipal Airport SBALas Vegas
Oakland
Sacramento
Ended due to COVID-19 pandemic [24]
Flag of Florida.svg Florida
Destin Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport VPSBowling GreenEnded due to low demand
Tampa Tampa International Airport TPACharlotte
Macon
Ended due to low demand [25]
Flag of Georgia (U.S. state).svg Georgia
Atlanta Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport ATLBowling GreenEnded due to low demand [26]
Flag of Kentucky.svg Kentucky
Bowling Green Bowling Green–Warren County Regional Airport BWGAtlanta
Destin-Fort Walton
Ended due to low demand [26]
Flag of Missouri.svg Missouri
Fort Leonard Wood Waynesville-St. Robert Regional Airport TBNSt. LouisAEAS community | Contract awarded to SkyWest
St. Louis St. Louis Lambert International Airport STLFort Leonard Wood
Flag of Nevada.svg Nevada
Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport LASPage
San Luis Obispo
Santa Barbara
Ended due to COVID-19 pandemic
Flag of Pennsylvania.svg Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh Pittsburgh International Airport PITIndianapolis
Milwaukee
suspended
Flag of Wisconsin.svg Wisconsin
Milwaukee Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport MKEIndianapolis
Pittsburgh
suspended

Fleet

Contour Airlines Embraer ERJ 135 at Baltimore-Washington Thurgood Marshall Airport N11526 BWI MD1.jpg
Contour Airlines Embraer ERJ 135 at Baltimore-Washington Thurgood Marshall Airport

As of March 2024, Contour uses regional jets, in a 30-seat configuration. [27]

Contour Airlines fleet
AircraftIn ServicePassengersNotes
Embraer ERJ 135 1030Owned and operated by Contour Aviation
Embraer ERJ 140 7
Embraer ERJ 145 2
Fleet total19

Services

Interline agreement

Contour has an interline agreement with American Airlines, 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. [28]

In-flight experience

Passengers traveling with Contour receive free seat selection and their first piece of checked baggage without charge on all fare classes. [29] All Contour flights feature leather seating, 36 inches of legroom, and complimentary in-flight snack and beverage service. [6]

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References

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