Tag Archives: CommutAir

CommutAir pilots sign new letter of agreement for their long-term contract

CommutAir leadership and ALPA are excited to announce sweeping increases to our shared pilot compensation program. Incoming first officers will now start at $72.00/hr and Captains will start at $100.00/hr. Additionally, new sign-on & retention bonuses are now available up to a total of $25,000 for First Officers and $50,000 for Captain qualified pilots.

The opportunities offered by these updates will enable sustained growth for all of our employees. CommutAir pilots will now receive enhanced levels of scheduling, commuting expenses, health insurance, vacation, sick leave and 401k benefits that are among the best in the industry:

Compensation benefits of the agreement include:

Increase in starting First Officer wages – $72/hr
Increase in starting Captain wages – $100/hr
Pilot sign-on bonuses and incentives – $25,000for First Officers and $50,000 for Captain Qualified pilots
Significant increase to pay override for instructors (Ground, SIM, Line Check Pilots, and Designated Examiners)
Annual retention bonuses totaling $25,000 for First Officers and $50,000 for Captains for full contract duration
New Minimum Monthly duty period Guarantee – 76 hours
Full Compensation for Experience – Longevity credit of 1:1 up to 20 yrs for new hires with prior FAR 121 industry experience
Increased Commuter hotel allotment for reserve pilots
Industry leading Commuter travel program including flights from home to base
Direct flow to United Airlines through the Aviate Program

United Express-CommutAir aircraft photo gallery:

CommutAir pilots ratify new long-term contract

CommutAir and its pilots represented by the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) ratified a new long term contract today. The new contract includes significant improvements to pay, benefits and quality of life to competitively position the company to maintain its long term growth. Among the most significant changes are:

30% increase in starting First Officer wages – $51/hr
25% increase in starting Captain wages – $84/hr
Commuting program to include company-paid travel to/from home to work
Employee 401K contributions up to 16% matched 50% by the company
Sign on bonus program up to $50,000 for Direct Entry Captains
Longevity credit up to 50% for new hires with prior FAR 121 industry experience

CommutAir announces Embraer ERJ145 fleet interior refresh program

CommutAir is pleased to announce the launch of an expansive effort to update and replace the interiors of its entire fleet of Embraer 145XR 50-seat aircraft with the support of United Airlines.

The upgraded aircraft will provide a more modernized and comfortable travel experience for customers flying with CommutAir. Heading into 2022, customers can expect to see new sidewalls, overhead bins, bulkhead finishes, LED cabin and reading lights, and a completely redesigned lavatory on CommutAir’s entire fleet of ERJ145 aircrafts.

CommutAir is hiring in all areas to continue to support the expansive growth the carrier has experienced in recent years. The carrier offers pilot programs that include:

Career path program through United AVIATE partnership – the fastest path to a United flight deck
Attractive sign-on bonus for Direct-Entry Captains ($50,000)
Rapid position upgrades for qualified applicants
Top-tier benefits including 401K matching
Unparalleled Commuter Policy

Reuters: United tells two regional airlines it will continue its contract with just one

United Airlines has informed ExpressJet Airlines and CommutAir that it will drop its contract with one of them according to Reuters.

Both carriers fly Embraer ERJ 145s exclusively for United as United Express carriers. Whoever loses the contract will be hard pressed to replace the revenue.

Read the full report.

CommutAir’s N14171 skids off the runway at Presque Isle, ME

CommutAir Embraer ERJ 145 N14171 operating as United Express flight UA4933 on March 4 from Newark to Presque Isle, Maine slide off the right side of runway on landing. 28 passengers and three crew members were on board.

Photos: Crown of Maine.

CommutAir issued this short statement:

CommutAir flight 4933, operating as United Express, from Newark, New Jersey, to Presque Isle, Maine was involved in an incident upon landing at approximately 11:30 EDT on March 4. Please see below for our official statement.

CommutAir, a United Express carrier, increases pilot sign-on bonus to $45,000 and offers immediate captain upgrades

CommutAir announced it is increasing its pilot sign-on bonus to up to $45,000 for captain-qualified candidates. In addition, to support its massive growth, the company has immediate captain upgrade opportunities for qualified new hires.

Pilots with 1,000 Part 121/135 applicable hours can take advantage of CommutAir’s increased $45,000 sign-on bonus. The Cleveland-based carrier is growing at a record pace and expects to hire or promote 200 captains over the next two years as it continues to grow its all-jet fleet.

Qualified candidates entering captain training will see total first-year benefits and compensation package of up to $117,000. In addition to top-tier compensation and benefits, CommutAir pilots enjoy a fast and direct path to a United Airlines flight deck via the United Career Path Program (CPP).

“Pilots wishing to fly for United Airlines need to look no further,” said Joel Raymond, Chief Operating Officer. “Our ability to provide immediate upgrades allows us to fuel our growth while providing incoming pilots with an incredible opportunity to join United Airlines.”

To learn more about this program, please visit www.flycommutair.com/captain-eligible-pilots/.

CommutAir and Ohio University offer students First Officer pathway program

CommutAir, a United Express® carrier, entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Ohio University’s Russ College of Engineering and Technology to offer Ohio University’sstudent pilots a direct path to a CommutAir First Officer position.

As part of the arrangement, CommutAir will provide select Ohio University student pilots up to $22,100 in tuition reimbursement towards obtaining a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) rating and building the necessary aeronautical experience required to fly for United’s fastest-growing regional airline.

CommutAir will offer student pilots hands-on experience by providing access to flight training resources, pilot mentors, and routine sessions with CommutAir pilots and executives. The program will serve as a preferred gateway for CFIs wanting to fly for CommutAir and eventually United Airlines via CommutAir’s United Career Path Program (CPP).

“We are pleased to partner with Ohio University’s acclaimed aviation program to offer its students a direct path to a CommutAir flight deck,” said Laura Prince, Managing Director of Human Resources. “We hope to emulate the best cadet programs and offer student pilots continuous, affordable, and real-world flight training.”

“Ohio University Aviation is very pleased to enter into this agreement with CommutAir as it will be highly beneficial to our students and the program overall,” said Steve Owens, Aviation Business Administrator at Ohio University.

Students actively enrolled at Ohio University’s flight school are eligible to apply for the program, via the OU aviation program office, after completing a minimum of four semesters. Upon successful completion of the program, students are guaranteed a First Officer training class date with CommutAir.

Careers

Through 2019, CommutAir will triple in size to an all-jet fleet of 61 aircraft and actively hire in all areas. CommutAir’s industry-leading pilot benefits include:

Fastest United Career Path Program (CPP) graduate: 2 Years 10 Days
Captain Pay for First Officer program
Retention Bonuses for Captains
Rapid upgrades
Top-Tier pay and benefits – including the industry’s first and best Commuter policy

For details of this agreement and career, opportunity details go to http://www.flycommutair.com/careers/pilots

Images: CommutAir.

CommutAir, a United Express carrier, announces a Rotor Transition Program (RTP)

CommutAir, a United Express® carrier, announces its Rotor Transition Program (RTP) to assist military and civilian helicopter pilots transition to fixed wing aircraft at CommutAir, United Airlines’ fastest growing regional airline partner.

Military veteran rotor pilots already meet the 750-hour restricted Air Transport Pilot (ATP) requirements, but many fall short of the 250 Pilot-in-Command hours required in a fixed wing aircraft. CommutAir will financially assist pilots with up to $22,100 to complete fixed wing certificate requirements.

The key differentiator of CommutAir’s RTP program is that an RTP participant can make their own flying arrangements at their local flight school or flying club and not require to relocate to some far-away “pre-approved” flight school. Another distinguishing feature of the CommutAir RTP is that it is also available to civilian helicopter pilots seeking an airline job.

Through 2019, CommutAir will triple in size to an all-jet fleet of 61 aircraft and actively hire in all areas. CommutAir’s industry-leading Pilot benefits include:

Guaranteed Captain Pay after Year 1
Quarterly Captain Retention Bonuses
Rapid upgrades
Top-Tier pay and benefits – including the industry’s first and best Commuter policy

For more information: CLICK HERE

CommutAir aircraft slide show:

CommutAir becomes all-jet, phases out its last DHC-8-200 Dash 8

CommutAir operated their last scheduled turboprop flights on Sunday, January 7, 2018.

The final United Express turboprop flight, operated by CommutAir, operated on Sunday, January 7, 2018. Flight UA 4909 departed from Syracuse, New York (SYR) at 7:30 p.m. and arrived at Washington (Dulles) (IAD) at 8:45 p.m. with the pictured N363PH (top).

On Monday, the Dash 8s were replaced with Embraer 145 regional jets.

CommutAir operated 16 37-seat DHC-8-200 Dash 8s and five 50-seat DHC-8-300 Dash 8s.

The DHC-8-300 were previously retired on September 5, 2017.

In August 2017, CommutAir and United announced plans to replace the Dash 8s with 21 Embraer 145 regional jets.

The Embraer fleet has already grown to 23 and could expand to 60.

CommutAir operates to 20 + cities in the midwest, and northeast.

Albany, NY	Lexington, KY
Buffalo, NY	Manchester, NH
Burlington, VT	Milwaukee, WI
Charleston, SC	Norfolk, VA
Cleveland, OH	Portland, ME
Columbus, OH	Providence, RI
Fayetteville, NC	Richmond, VA
Grand Rapids, MI	Rochester, NY
Greensboro, NC	Savannah, GA
Greenville / Spartanburg, SC	St. Louis, MO
Harrisburg, PA	Syracuse, NY
Hartford, CT	Washington, DC
Indianapolis, IN
Ithaca, NY
Jacksonville, FL

Cape Air (Hyannis) operates three turboprops for United Express on local routes from Guam.

These three aircraft are now the last turboporps to be operated in United colors.

Top Copyright Photo (all others by CommutAir): United Express-CommutAir Bombardier DHC-8-202 (Q200) N363PH (msn 520) IAD (Brian McDonough). Image: 909271.

United Express-CommutAir aircraft slide show:

Video:

CommutAir becomes a new Embraer ERJ operator

CommutAir Begins Commercial Service with ERJ-145XR Aircraft for United Express (PRNewsFoto/CommutAir)

CommutAir on July 1, 2016 began commercial service with its inaugural United Express flight on the Embraer ERJ-145XR regional jet from Washington, DC (Dulles) to Columbia, SC.

CommutAir, operating as United Express, is majority owned by Champlain Enterprises Inc., an airline holding company founded in the 1980s. Today, CommutAir operates a large fleet of Bombardier Q200/Q300 aircraft with more than 650 weekly flights to 29 airports.

Photo: CommutAir.