Trans States Airlines

Last updated
Trans States Airlines
Trans States Airlines Logo.gif
IATA ICAO Call sign
AXLOFWATERSKI
Founded1982 (1982)
(as Resort Air)
Ceased operationsApril 1, 2020 (2020-04-01)
AOC # RAIA379A [1]
Hubs
Frequent-flyer program
Alliance
Parent company Trans States Holdings
Headquarters Bridgeton, Missouri, United States
Key people

Trans States Airlines was a regional airline in the United States that operated from 1982 until 2020, when it shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was owned by Trans States Holdings and headquartered in Bridgeton, Missouri. [2] At the time of its closing, the airline operated flights for United Airlines under the United Express brand. Trans States Airlines ceased all operations on April 1, 2020. [3]

Contents

History

The company began operations as Resort Air in 1982. [4] As an independent commuter air carrier, Resort Air operated Swearingen Metro propjets from a small hub located in St. Louis (STL) with service to Carbondale, Illinois; Columbia, Missouri; Fort Leonard Wood, MO; Joplin, MO; Lake of the Ozarks, MO; Springfield, IL; and Springfield, MO. [5] In 1985, the company entered into an agreement with Trans World Airlines (TWA) to operate as Trans World Express serving six cities in Missouri and Illinois. In 1989 Resort Air changed its name to Trans States Airlines. Many new aircraft were added to replace the Swearingen Metro planes including the BAe Jetstream model 31 and model 41 as well as much larger ATR 42s and ATR 72s. New service was added to many more cities from St. Louis and in 1999, Embraer ERJ 145 regional jets were added for the Trans World Express system expanding service to several cities much further distant from St. Louis.

In 1993 TSA began operations on the west coast as USAir Express at Los Angeles (LAX) with service to Fresno, Monterey, Ontario, CA, Orange County, Palm Springs, San Diego, and Santa Barbara nonstop from LAX with BAe Jetstream 31 propjets. [6] The operation continued until the year 2000. [7]

On the east coast, in 1995, TSA began operations as a code share feeder airline into New York City JFK Airport for both Trans World Express and United Express. [4] By 1999, Trans States had begun operations as a Delta Connection code share air carrier for Delta Air Lines at New York's JFK Airport with Embraer ERJ 145 regional jets and BAe Jetstream 41 propjets with nonstop service to Albany, NY, Baltimore, Greensboro, NC, Hartford/Springfield, Norfolk, VA, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Raleigh/Durham, Richmond, VA and Rochester, NY. [8] Flights under the USAirways Express banner were also performed at Pittsburgh.

In December 2001, TWA merged into American Airlines and all Trans States flights operating as Trans World Express then began flying and American Connection. American later dismantled the St. Louis hub operation created by TWA and the American Connection flights ended in 2009. In 2015 American merged with US Airways and the US Airways Express flights operated by Trans States then began flying as American Eagle. These flights then ended in 2018. [9]

In 2006 Trans States briefly operated a small hub at San Antonio, Texas flying Embraer ERJ 145s. The service was performed under the United Express banner with flights from San Antonio to Albuquerque, Colorado Springs, Kansas City, New Orleans, Oklahoma City, Omaha, and Tulsa. [10]

The call sign "Waterski" and the ICAO 3-letter identifier "LOF," which stands for 'Lodge of the Four Seasons', are from the early days when the company was operated as Resort Air and took visitors to the Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri.

In 2015, the airline began a hub operation at Denver under the United Express banner and carried 3.6 million passengers for the year. [11]

In February 2020, Trans States announced their intent to gradually cease operations through 2020 and transfer their fleet of ERJ-145's to ExpressJet Airlines per an agreement with United Airlines. However, on March 17, 2020, CEO Rick Leach sent a memo to employees stating that due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on aviation, the airline would cease operations on April 1, 2020, much earlier than originally expected. Compass Airlines, another regional airline owned by Trans States Holdings, also announced a cessation of operations effective April 7, 2020, leaving GoJet Airlines as the only operating airline owned by Trans States Holdings. The ERJ 145s that were transferred to ExpressJet were then transferred to CommutAir later in 2020 as ExpressJet was subsequently shut down. CommutAir is also a United Express operator.

The final Trans States Airlines flight was United Express Flight 4695 from Springfield, Missouri to Denver, Colorado on April 1, 2020.

St. Louis TWA Express Hub Operations in 1990

Trans States was operating 48-passenger ATR 42 and 19-passenger Fairchild Metroliner III propjets in Trans World Express code share service for Trans World Airlines at this time from the TWA hub in St. Louis with nonstop flights to the following destinations: [12]

St. Louis TWA Express Hub Operations in 1995

By 1995, Trans States had expanded its Trans World Express code sharing operations at the TWA St. Louis hub and was operating ATR 42, ATR 72, BAe Jetstream 31 and Jetstream 41, and Embraer EMB 120 turboprops with nonstop flights to the following destinations: [13]


United Express destinations

Prior to its shutdown, the airline operated to the following destinations under the United Express brand: [14]

CityCountry (Subdivision)IATAAirportNotes
Birmingham United States (Alabama)BHM Birmingham–Shuttlesworth International Airport
Flagstaff United States (Arizona)FLG Flagstaff Pulliam Airport
Kingman United States (Arizona)IMG Kingman Airport
Tucson United States (Arizona)TUS Tucson International Airport
Fayetteville United States (Arkansas)XNA Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport
Little Rock United States (Arkansas)LIT Little Rock National Airport
Monterey United States (California)MRY Monterey Regional Airport
Colorado Springs United States (Colorado)COS City of Colorado Springs Municipal Airport
Denver United States (Colorado)DEN Denver International Airport Hub
Durango United States (Colorado)DRO Durango–La Plata County Airport
Grand Junction United States (Colorado)GJT Grand Junction Regional Airport
Gunnison United States (Colorado)GUC Gunnison–Crested Butte Regional Airport Seasonal
Hayden/Steamboat Springs United States (Colorado)HDN Yampa Valley Airport
Montrose/Telluride United States (Colorado)MTJ Montrose Regional Airport
Fort Walton Beach United States (Florida)VPS Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport
Idaho Falls United States (Idaho)IDA Idaho Falls Regional Airport
Chicago United States (Illinois)ORD O'Hare International Airport Hub
Moline United States (Illinois)MLI Quad City International Airport
Peoria United States (Illinois)PIA General Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport
Evansville United States (Indiana)EVV Evansville Regional Airport
South Bend United States (Indiana)SBN South Bend International Airport
Cedar Rapids United States (Iowa)CID Eastern Iowa Airport
Des Moines United States (Iowa)DSM Des Moines International Airport
Wichita United States (Kansas)ICT Wichita Eisenhower National Airport
Kansas City United States (Missouri)MCI Kansas City International Airport
Louisville United States (Kentucky)SDF Louisville International Airport
Detroit United States (Michigan)DTW Detroit Metropolitan Airport
Grand Rapids United States (Michigan)GRR Gerald R. Ford International Airport
Lansing United States (Michigan)LAN Capital Region International Airport
Traverse City United States (Michigan)TVC Cherry Capital Airport
St. Louis United States (Missouri)STL St. Louis Lambert International Airport Hub
Springfield United States (Missouri)SGF Springfield–Branson National Airport
Billings United States (Montana)BIL Billings Logan International Airport
Great Falls United States (Montana)GTF Great Falls International Airport
Helena United States (Montana)HLN Helena Regional Airport
Kalispell United States (Montana)FCA Glacier Park International Airport FAA LID code is GPI
Missoula United States (Montana)MSO Missoula International Airport
Boston United States (Massachusetts)BOS Boston Logan International Airport
Lincoln United States (Nebraska)LNK Lincoln Airport
Omaha United States (Nebraska)OMA Eppley Airfield
Albuquerque United States (New Mexico)ABQ Albuquerque International Sunport
Santa Fe United States (New Mexico)SAF Santa Fe Regional Airport
Buffalo United States (New York)BUF Buffalo Niagara International Airport
Rochester United States (New York)ROC Greater Rochester International Airport
Newark United States (New Jersey)EWR Newark Liberty International Airport Hub
Greensboro United States (North Carolina)GSO Piedmont Triad International Airport
Raleigh/Durham United States (North Carolina)RDU Raleigh–Durham International Airport
Bismarck United States (North Dakota)BIS Bismarck Municipal Airport
Dickinson United States (North Dakota)DIK Dickinson Theodore Roosevelt Regional Airport
Fargo United States (North Dakota)FAR Hector International Airport
Minot United States (North Dakota)MOT Minot International Airport
Williston United States (North Dakota)ISN Sloulin Field International Airport
Akron/Canton United States (Ohio)CAK Akron–Canton Regional Airport
Cleveland United States (Ohio)CLE Hopkins International Airport
Columbus United States (Ohio)CMH John Glenn Columbus International Airport
Dayton United States (Ohio)DAY Dayton International Airport
Oklahoma City United States (Oklahoma)OKC Will Rogers World Airport
Tulsa United States (Oklahoma)TUL Tulsa International Airport
Medford United States (Oregon)MFR Rogue Valley International–Medford Airport
Erie United States (Pennsylvania)ERI Erie International Airport
Providence United States (Rhode Island)PVD T. F. Green Airport
Greenville/Spartanburg United States (South Carolina)GSP Greenville–Spartanburg International Airport
Rapid City United States (South Dakota)RAP Rapid City Regional Airport
Sioux Falls United States (South Dakota)FSD Sioux Falls Regional Airport
Knoxville United States (Tennessee)TYS McGhee Tyson Airport
Memphis United States (Tennessee)MEM Memphis International Airport
Amarillo United States (Texas)AMA Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport
El Paso United States (Texas)ELP El Paso International Airport
Lubbock United States (Texas)LBB Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport
Midland United States (Texas)MAF Midland International Airport
Houston United States (Texas)IAH George Bush Intercontinental Airport Hub
San Antonio United States (Texas)SAT San Antonio International Airport
Roanoke United States (Virginia)ROA Roanoke Regional Airport
Madison United States (Wisconsin)MSN Dane County Regional Airport
Green Bay United States (Wisconsin)GRB Green Bay Austin Straubel International Airport
Appleton United States (Wisconsin)ATW Appleton International Airport
Milwaukee United States (Wisconsin)MKE Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport
Casper United States (Wyoming)CPR Casper–Natrona County International Airport
Cody United States (Wyoming)COD Yellowstone Regional Airport
Toronto Canada (Ontario)YYZ Lester Pearson International Airport
Ottawa Canada (Ontario)YOW Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport Occasional
Montréal Canada (Quebec)YUL Montréal–Trudeau International Airport
Quebec City Canada (Quebec)YQB Québec/Jean Lesage International Airport
Guadalajara Jalisco (Mexico)GDL Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla International Airport
Zihuatanejo Guerrero (Mexico)ZIH Aeropuerto Internacional de Zihuatanejo
Mexico City State of Mexico (Mexico)MEX Mexico City International Airport
Puebla City Puebla (Mexico)PBC Puebla International Airport
Veracruz Veracruz (Mexico)VER Aeropuerto Internacional de Veracruz
Cancun Cancun (Mexico)CUN Aeropuerto Internacional de Cancun

Fleet

Prior to its shutdown, the Trans States Airlines fleet consisted of the following aircraft:

Embraer ERJ 145 at Dulles International Airport TSA ERJ145 N803HK.jpg
Embraer ERJ 145 at Dulles International Airport
Trans State Airlines Fleet
AircraftIn servicePassengersOperated ForNotes
Embraer ERJ 145 45 [15] 50 United Express Most transferred to ExpressJet and then CommutAir.
Total45

Fleet development

In October 2009, Trans States Holdings announced an agreement to purchase 50 Mitsubishi MRJ90 with options for 50 more. [16] Trans States Holdings held conversion rights to take the smaller, 76-seat MRJ70 instead of the 92-seat MRJ90 dependent on the scope clause environment by the time the airline took delivery. [17] The order was cancelled as of October 2019 due to concerns that the Mitsubishi SpaceJet M90 aircraft violates the US Scope clause laws. [18]

In April 2013, Trans States Airlines began taking delivery of six former Passaredo Linhas Aéreas ERJ-145s. [19] In 2015 Trans States began parking their United Express ERJ 145ERs, in exchange for ERJ 145XRs transferred from ExpressJet.

Previously operated aircraft

Prior to becoming an all-jet airline, Trans States operated several different turboprop aircraft types including:

These propjet aircraft were operated in code share feeder services for American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Trans World Airlines (TWA), USAir and US Airways. [20]

Accidents and incidents

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oxnard Airport</span> General aviation airport in Oxnard, California

Oxnard Airport is a county-owned, public airport a mile west of downtown Oxnard, in Ventura County, California. The airport has not had scheduled passenger service since June 8, 2010, when United Express ended flights to Los Angeles International Airport. America West Express also served the airport with nonstop flights to Phoenix in the early-2000s via a code sharing agreement with America West Airlines.

Envoy Air is an American regional airline headquartered in Irving, Texas in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of the American Airlines Group and it is paid by fellow group member American Airlines to staff, operate and maintain aircraft used on American Eagle flights that are scheduled, marketed and sold by American Airlines.

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

Continental Express was the 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 Continental's merger with United Airlines, two carriers were operating using the Continental Express brand name:

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Air Midwest</span> US regional airline (1965–2008) bought by Mesa

Air Midwest, Inc., was a Federal Aviation Administration Part 121 certificated air carrier that operated under air carrier certificate number AMWA510A issued on May 15, 1965. It was headquartered in Wichita, Kansas, United States, and from 1991 was a subsidiary of Mesa Air Group. Besides initially flying as an independent air carrier, it later operated code sharing feeder flights on behalf of Eastern Air Lines as Eastern Air Midwest Express, on behalf of American Airlines as American Eagle, on behalf of Trans World Airlines (TWA) as Trans World Express and on behalf of US Airways as US Airways Express. It also operated feeder flights on behalf of Braniff (1983–1990) and Ozark Air Lines in addition to flying for Mesa Airlines. Air Midwest was shut down by its parent company, Mesa Airlines, in June 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">McAllen Miller International Airport</span> Airport in McAllen, Texas, United States

McAllen International Airport is in McAllen, in Hidalgo County, Texas, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lafayette Regional Airport</span> Airport in Lafayette Parish, Louisiana

Lafayette Regional Airport(French: Aéroport régional de Lafayette) 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waterloo Regional Airport</span> Airport

Waterloo Regional Airport ( Livingston Betsworth Field) is four miles (6 km) northwest of Waterloo, in Black Hawk County, Iowa. It is used for general aviation and sees one airline.

Trans World Express (TWE) was the fully owned and certified regional carrier for Trans World Airlines (TWA) and an airline trademark name for TWA's corporation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Four Corners Regional Airport</span> Airport in Farmington, New Mexico, USA

Four Corners Regional Airport is in San Juan County, New Mexico, United States, in the city of Farmington, which owns it. It is a Class D towered general aviation airport with no commercial passenger services, but has chartered flight services, flight instruction, and a full-service fixed-base operator]] (FBO). It is included in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2019–2023, in which it is categorized as a regional general aviation facility.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fort Smith Regional Airport</span> Public airport in Fort Smith, Arkansas, US

Fort Smith Regional Airport is a public use airport located near the Interstate 540 freeway three nautical miles (6 km) southeast of the central business district of Fort Smith, in Sebastian County, Arkansas, United States. FSM is governed by the Fort Smith Airport Commission as established by the City of Fort Smith, Arkansas. It serves the transportation needs of residents and businesses of western Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma. FSM is currently served by American Eagle, the regional airline affiliate of American Airlines. It has a large population of corporate and general aviation aircraft. A full-service fixed-base operator (FBO), Signature Flight Support, provides service to general aviation, airline, and military operators.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barkley Regional Airport</span> Airport

Barkley Regional Airport is an American domestic airport in West Paducah, Kentucky, 14 miles west of Paducah in McCracken County. It is used for general aviation and sees one airline, subsidized by the Essential Air Service program.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lake Charles Regional Airport</span> Airport

Lake Charles Regional Airport is a public use airport located five nautical miles (9 km) south of the central business district of Lake Charles, a city in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, United States. Owned by Calcasieu Parish, the airport serves approximately 375,000 people in the Lake Charles – Jennings combined statistical area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Quincy Regional Airport</span> Airport serving Quincy, Illinois, United States

Quincy Regional Airport is a city-owned airport 12 miles east of Quincy, a city in Adams County, Illinois, United States. It is used for general aviation but also sees Southern Airways Express flights to Chicago's O'Hare International Airport and St. Louis Lambert International Airport, a service which is subsidized by the federal government's Essential Air Service program at a cost of $1,956,856. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2023–2027 categorized it as a national non-primary commercial service facility.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abilene Regional Airport</span> Airport

Abilene Regional Airport is a public airport located approximately 3 miles (4.8 km) southeast of downtown Abilene, in Taylor County, Texas. The airport is located within the Abilene city limits, and is and owned and operated by the city.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Drake Field</span> Airport in Greenland, Arkansas

Drake Field is a public airport three miles south of Fayetteville, in Washington County, Arkansas. It is also known as Fayetteville Executive Airport and was formerly Fayetteville Municipal Airport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Britt Airways</span> Defunct regional airline of the United States (1964–1996)

Britt Airways was a regional airline in the United States that operated from 1964 until it merged with ExpressJet in 1996. It was established as Vercoa Air Service in 1964 and renamed to Britt Airlines when it was purchased by William and Marilyn Britt in 1975 later on Britt Airways. It was based in Terre Haute, Indiana until 1996. It began as a commuter airline. It primarily operated turboprop aircraft but also flew British Aircraft Corporation BAC One-Eleven twinjets as an independent air carrier at one point as well. The airline evolved into a regional air carrier operating code share flights primarily for Continental Airlines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chautauqua Airlines</span> Defunct regional airline of the United States (1973–2014)

Chautauqua Airlines, Inc. was a regional airline in the United States and a subsidiary of Republic Airways Holdings based in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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 for Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, and United Airlines. Chautauqua previously flew feeder services for other airlines via code sharing agreements including Allegheny Airlines, USAir, Trans World Airlines, Continental Airlines, Frontier Airlines, and America West Airlines. Its last day in operation was December 31, 2014, at which time all flying was absorbed by the Shuttle America certificate.

American Eagle is a 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 regional jet operation in the world.

References

  1. "Federal Aviation Administration - Airline Certificate Information - Detail View". av-info.faa.gov. Retrieved 2019-06-27.
  2. "Trans States Airlines :: Corporate Information". transstates.net. Retrieved 2012-10-05. "Executive Offices Trans States Airlines 11495 Navaid Rd. Suite 340 Bridgeton, Missouri 63044"
  3. Jacob Barker. "Regional carrier Trans States Airlines to stop flying April 1 as airlines reel from coronavirus". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  4. 1 2 TSA History Archived 2010-11-24 at the Wayback Machine November 12, 2009
  5. http://www.departedflights.com, May 1, 1984 Resort Air route map
  6. http://www.departedflights.com, April 2, 1995 Official Airline Guide (OAG), Los Angeles flight schedules for USAir Express
  7. http://www.departedflights.com, June 1, 1999 Official Airline Guide (OAG), Los Angeles flight schedules
  8. http://www.departedflights.com, June 1, 1999 Official Airline Guide (OAG), New York JFK flight schedules
  9. Official Airline Guide
  10. Official Airline Guide
  11. "Trans States Airlines :: About Our Airline". transstates.net. Archived from the original on 2012-07-28. Retrieved 2012-10-05.
  12. http://www.departedflights.com, 1990 Trans States Airlines/Trans World Express route map
  13. http://www.departedflights.com, April 2, 1995 Official Airline Guide (OAG), St. Louis flight schedules
  14. "Route Map". www.transstates.net. Retrieved May 26, 2019.
  15. "Trans States Airlines Fleet Details and History". www.planespotters.net. Retrieved 2020-04-01.
  16. "Trans States Holdings Signs LOI with Mitsubishi Aircraft for Purchase of 100 MRJ Aircraft" (PDF) (Press release). transstates.net. 2009-10-02. Retrieved 2013-06-01.
  17. "Mitsubishi Specifies Certification Schedule for MRJ". AIN Online. 2013-05-07. Retrieved 2013-06-01.
  18. "The Mitsubishi SpaceJet news thread - Page 3 - Aviation24.be".
  19. "Trans States Airlines takes on six ex-Passaredo ERJ 145s". CH Aviation. 2013-04-26. Retrieved 2013-06-01.
  20. http://www.airliners.net, photos of Trans States Airlines aircraft
  21. Hradecky, Simon. "Accident: Trans States E145 at Ottawa on Jun 16th 2010, runway overrun". Aviation Herald. Retrieved 17 June 2010.
  22. "Plane Emergency At Bradley". tribunedigital-thecourant.
  23. "No injuries after plane slides off Ottawa runway". Ottawa.