| |||||||
Founded | 24 January 1983 | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Commenced operations | 26 January 1984 | ||||||
Ceased operations | 1988 | ||||||
Operating bases | Orlando, Florida | ||||||
Fleet size | See Fleet below | ||||||
Destinations | See Destinations below | ||||||
Headquarters | Orlando, Florida United States | ||||||
Founder | Gordon Linkon (CEO) | ||||||
Employees | 385 (1985) |
Florida Express was an airline headquartered in Orlando, Florida, United States. Orlando International Airport (MCO) served as the airline's hub with a point-to-point linear route system in the eastern U.S. and Florida. Established in 1984, [1] the air carrier operated a small fleet consisting exclusively of British Aircraft Corporation BAC One-Eleven twin jet aircraft and employed approximately 385 employees in 1985. [2] It was incorporated in Delaware on January 24, 1983 [3] and received its economic certificate from the Civil Aeronautics Board exactly a year later on January 24, 1984. [4] First flight was January 26, 1984 and it was co-founded and led by Gordon Linkon, a former Midway Airlines president and Frontier Airlines executive. [5] The airline completed an initial public offering on October 16, 1985, raising $13mm. [6] The airline's toll-free phone number was 1-800-FAST-JET. [7]
On October 28, 1987, the second incarnation of Braniff announced its acquisition of Florida Express in a deal worth $20mm (over $50mm in 2024 dollars). [8] After government approvals, the deal closed on April 19, 1988. [9] However, before the deal closed, from January 15, 1988 onward, Florida Express flew for Braniff under the name Braniff Express. [10]
1987-88 World Airline Fleets (copyright 1987) lists the Air Florida fleet as follows: [11]
The 203AE series aircraft were originally delivered to Braniff International Airways, [12] the US trunk carrier that ceased operation in 1982, a separate but related carrier from the Braniff that bought Florida Express.
As of January 1984: [13]
As of April 1986: [14]
Norwood, Tom (1996). Deregulation Knockouts: Round One. Sand Point, Idaho: Airways International. p. 86. ISBN 9780965399302.