Chautauqua Airlines is an American regional airline providing feeder services under the names Delta Connection for Delta Air Lines, AmericanConnection for American Airlines, Continental Express for Continental Air Lines, United Express for United Airlines, and US Airways Express for US Airways. With around 100 aircraft more than 670 flights are performed every day.
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Chautauqua Airlines was established on May 3, 1973 in Jamestown, USA, a city in Chautauqua county, hence the name of the airline. It started operations in August of that year with two new nine-seater Beech 99 aircraft. Initial destinations were Jamestown, Pittsburgh and Buffalo.
Five Fairchild Metro III aircraft were added in 1984. In 1986, Saab aircraft followed a contract with Saab Aircraft of America.
In 1994, the airline moved its headquarters to Indianapolis, USA, in order to further expand. In connection to this, the code-share agreement with USAir was renewed.
On May 15, 1998 Wexford Capital, LLC of Greenwich Connecticut purchased Chautauqua Airlines. One year later, ten Embraer ERJ-145 regional jets were purchased to support the expansion.
In July 1999, Bryan K. Bedford became President and Chief Executive Officer of Chautauqua Airlines.
A partnership with America West Airlines was announced in March 2001. This code-share agreement included flights to major cities like Chicago, Baltimore and Boston from America West’s Columbus hub. In the same year, the agreement with American Airlines was renewed. Delta Air Lines also signed a code-share agreement with Chautauqua in 2002.
In 2004, United Airlines announced that Chautauqua would fly for United Express as well. In May of the same year, Republic Airways, Chautauqua’s parent company, went public. Five million shares at a price of $13 were offered during the IPO.
Chautauqua Airlines today owns around 100 Embraer regional jets, including ERJ-145s, ERJ-140s and ERJ-135s and Canadair CRJ 200ERs. It provides feeder services for major US airlines, namely American Airlines, Continental Air Lines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and US Airways. In total more than 670 flights are performed every day, to a total of almost 500 destinations.
Chautauqua was elected Regional Airline of the Year by Air Transport World and Regional Airline of the Year by Regional Airline World in 2004.
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