Chautauqua Airlines to Expand Delta Connection Operation with the Addition of 12 Embraer ERJ 145 Regional Jets
Monday February 10, 1:20 pm ET
Airline to transition aircraft out of America West Express program due to Columbus hub closure
INDIANAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 10, 2003-- Chautauqua Airlines a wholly owned subsidiary of Republic Airways Holdings announced today that it has reached agreement with Delta Air Lines to increase its Delta Connection operation from 22 to 34 regional jets. Twelve, 50-passenger Embraer ERJ 145's currently flying as America West Express from Port Columbus International Airport will begin transitioning to Delta Connection on April 1st. The entire transition should be completed by mid June of 2003.
"We are very pleased to expand our Delta Connection operation with the addition of 12 ERJ-145's previously operated under the America West Express brand," said Bryan Bedford, president and chief executive officer of Chautauqua Airlines. "While we will miss working with our friends at America West, we are pleased to expand our relationship with Delta Air Lines and look forward to increasing our Delta Connection operation throughout Delta Air Lines vast route network." Chautauqua Airlines currently operates Eight Embraer regional jets under it's Delta Connection partnership with an additional 14 new Embraer regional jets to be delivered by December of 2003. With the addition of these 12 ERJ 145's, Chautauqua Airline's Delta Connection operation will consist of 19 50-passenger ERJ-145's and 15 37-passenger ERJ 135's by the end of 2003.
"This new agreement will significantly increase the number of Delta Connection jets and flights operated by Chautauqua Airlines," said Fred Buttrell, president and chief executive officer, Delta Connection, Inc. "These aircraft will allow us to continue to expand Delta Connection's valuable feed traffic to the Delta Air Lines (NYSE
AL - News) network, and additional service to Columbus that we will announce soon."
Chautauqua Airlines will continue to operate its 61,000 square foot maintenance facility as well as a crew base at Columbus International Airport. The airline employs approximately 275 in Columbus, including pilots, mechanics, flight attendants and support staff. The transition from America West Express will have no affect on Chautauqua Airlines employees.
Chautauqua Airlines is a wholly owned subsidiary of Republic Airways Holdings, Inc., which is wholly owned by Wexford Capital LLC, a Greenwich, Conn.- based manager of investment funds. Chautauqua offers scheduled passenger service on approximately 385 flights daily to 48 cities in 24 states, Canada and the Bahamas through code-sharing agreements with four major U.S. airlines. The all-jet airline currently operates a fleet of 61 Embraer regional jets, including 43 ERJ-145s, 15 ERJ-140s and 3 ERJ-135's. All of its flights are operated as AmericanConnection, America West Express or US Airways Express. The airline employs more than 1,500 aviation professionals.
Delta Connection includes Delta's wholly owned subsidiaries Atlantic Southeast Airlines and Comair, additional regional carriers Atlantic Coast Airlines, Chautauqua Airlines and SkyWest Airlines, and code-share partner American Eagle. Delta Connection carriers operate more than 300 regional jets throughout North America. For more information, please contact Delta Reservations, 1-800-221-1212, or visit Delta.com.
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Monday February 10, 1:20 pm ET
Airline to transition aircraft out of America West Express program due to Columbus hub closure
INDIANAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 10, 2003-- Chautauqua Airlines a wholly owned subsidiary of Republic Airways Holdings announced today that it has reached agreement with Delta Air Lines to increase its Delta Connection operation from 22 to 34 regional jets. Twelve, 50-passenger Embraer ERJ 145's currently flying as America West Express from Port Columbus International Airport will begin transitioning to Delta Connection on April 1st. The entire transition should be completed by mid June of 2003.
"We are very pleased to expand our Delta Connection operation with the addition of 12 ERJ-145's previously operated under the America West Express brand," said Bryan Bedford, president and chief executive officer of Chautauqua Airlines. "While we will miss working with our friends at America West, we are pleased to expand our relationship with Delta Air Lines and look forward to increasing our Delta Connection operation throughout Delta Air Lines vast route network." Chautauqua Airlines currently operates Eight Embraer regional jets under it's Delta Connection partnership with an additional 14 new Embraer regional jets to be delivered by December of 2003. With the addition of these 12 ERJ 145's, Chautauqua Airline's Delta Connection operation will consist of 19 50-passenger ERJ-145's and 15 37-passenger ERJ 135's by the end of 2003.
"This new agreement will significantly increase the number of Delta Connection jets and flights operated by Chautauqua Airlines," said Fred Buttrell, president and chief executive officer, Delta Connection, Inc. "These aircraft will allow us to continue to expand Delta Connection's valuable feed traffic to the Delta Air Lines (NYSE
AL - News) network, and additional service to Columbus that we will announce soon." Chautauqua Airlines will continue to operate its 61,000 square foot maintenance facility as well as a crew base at Columbus International Airport. The airline employs approximately 275 in Columbus, including pilots, mechanics, flight attendants and support staff. The transition from America West Express will have no affect on Chautauqua Airlines employees.
Chautauqua Airlines is a wholly owned subsidiary of Republic Airways Holdings, Inc., which is wholly owned by Wexford Capital LLC, a Greenwich, Conn.- based manager of investment funds. Chautauqua offers scheduled passenger service on approximately 385 flights daily to 48 cities in 24 states, Canada and the Bahamas through code-sharing agreements with four major U.S. airlines. The all-jet airline currently operates a fleet of 61 Embraer regional jets, including 43 ERJ-145s, 15 ERJ-140s and 3 ERJ-135's. All of its flights are operated as AmericanConnection, America West Express or US Airways Express. The airline employs more than 1,500 aviation professionals.
Delta Connection includes Delta's wholly owned subsidiaries Atlantic Southeast Airlines and Comair, additional regional carriers Atlantic Coast Airlines, Chautauqua Airlines and SkyWest Airlines, and code-share partner American Eagle. Delta Connection carriers operate more than 300 regional jets throughout North America. For more information, please contact Delta Reservations, 1-800-221-1212, or visit Delta.com.
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