Tag Archives: Delta Connection

The end of the line for Chautauqua Airlines, aircraft, personnel and operations shifted to Shuttle America

Chautauqua Airlines (Indianapolis), as planned, ended operations yesterday at midnight (December 31). The Embraer ERJ 145s, operated as a Delta Connection carrier, were shifted to sister airline Shuttle America (Indianapolis) starting today (January 1).

The aircraft will now operate under the “Mercury” call-sign. The certificate is currently retained by parent company, Republic Airways Holdings, and is being considered for sale to an undisclosed company. Chautauqua aircraft and employees have been transferred to the new certificate.

Chautauqua Airlines was established on May 3, 1973 in Jamestown, Chautauqua County, New York (hence the name) and started operations on August 1, 1974 using two 15-passenger Beechcraft 99 aircraft.

Chautauqua Airlines has also operated as American West Express, American Connection, Continental Express, Frontier Airlines (2nd), Midwest Connect, Trans World Express, United Express, US Airways Express and USAir Express.

The ERJ 145s are being phased out from the Delta Connection contract agreement. Previously on December 11, 2014 parent Republic Airways Holdings Inc. announced it had reached an amendment to its Capacity Purchase Agreement with Delta Air Lines to operate nine additional 69-seat ERJ 170 aircraft. The aircraft are scheduled to be placed into service between the 3rd quarter of 2015 and the 2nd quarter of 2016 and will operate for a term of six years per aircraft. In addition, the Company and Delta have agreed to extend the term of the agreement for the existing 14 ERJ 170 aircraft by four years, or through October 2021, and the existing 16 ERJ 175 aircraft by approximately five years, or through February 2024.

The nine additional ERJ 170 aircraft will either be sourced internally by the Company or with used aircraft available in the open market.

Copyright Photo: Chautauqua Airlines started operations in 1974 as an Allegheny Commuter airline from Chautauqua County in western New York State.

Shuttle America to operate nine additional Embraer ERJ 170s for Delta Air Lines

Republic Airways Holdings Inc. (Indianapolis) has announced it has reached an amendment to its Capacity Purchase Agreement (“CPA”) with Delta Air Lines (Atlanta) to operate nine additional 69-seat Embraer ERJ 170 (E170) aircraft. The aircraft are scheduled to be placed into service between the 3rd quarter of 2015 and the 2nd quarter of 2016 and will operate for a term of six years per aircraft. In addition, the Company and Delta have agreed to extend the term of the agreement for the existing 14 ERJ 170 aircraft by four years, or through October 2021, and the existing 16 ERJ 175 aircraft by approximately five years, or through February 2024. Both types are operated for Delta by subsidiary Shuttle America.

The nine additional ERJ 170 aircraft will either be sourced internally by the Company or with used aircraft available in the open market.

Republic Airways Holdings Inc., based in Indianapolis, Indiana, is an airline holding company that owns Chautauqua Airlines, Republic Airlines and Shuttle America.

Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough/AirlinersGallery.com. Embraer ERJ 170-100SU N870RW (msn 17000138) arrives in Washington (Reagan National).

Delta Connection-Shuttle America aircraft slide show:

http://airlinersgallery.smugmug.com/Airlines-UnitedStates-1/Airlines-UnitedStates-1/Delta-Connection-Shuttle

SkyWest Airlines is taking over the Endeavor Air Fort Wayne maintenance base

SkyWest Airlines (St. George, Utah) has informed its maintenance employees that it is taking over the Endeavor Air (Delta Connection) (Minneapolis/St. Paul) maintenance base at Fort Wayne, Indiana on February 1, 2015. The company expects to handle up to four overnight Bombardier CRJ200s for the Delta Connection system (see route map below).

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. SkyWest’s Bombardier CRJ200 (CL-600-2B19) N466SW (msn 7856) departs from Los Angeles in the house colors.

Delta Connection-SkyWest aircraft slide show:

http://airlinersgallery.smugmug.com/Airlines-UnitedStates-1/Airlines-UnitedStates-1/Delta-Connection-SkyWest

Delta Connection-SkyWest current route map (click to expand):

Delta to drop four more routes from Memphis

Delta Air Lines (Atlanta) continues to dismantle the Memphis hub. According to The Commerical Appeal of Memphis, the airline will drop all service from MEM to Dallas/Fort Worth, New Orleans and Pittsburgh on January 5, 2015. The airline claims the MEM routes that are being dropped are “unprofitable” A fourth route, to Washington (Reagan National), will be dropped on April 7, 2015. 84 positions at the MEM station are being eliminated according to the report.

The routes are operated with Embraer 170/175s.

Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough/AirlinersGallery.com. Embraer ERJ 170-200LR (ERJ 175) N215JQ (msn 17000270) prepares to land in Washington (Reagan National).

Delta Air Lines aircraft slide show (current livery):

Delta Connection-Shuttle America:

SkyWest Airlines to start CRJ200 regional jet flights to Pocatello and Elko on January 1, 2015

SkyWest Airlines (Delta Connection) (St. George, Utah) will commence new daily jet service between Pocatello, Idaho and the Salt Lake City hub on January 1, 2015. SkyWest will operate Delta Connection flights from Pocatello to Salt Lake City with two roundtrips from Monday through Friday and one roundtrip on Saturdays and Sundays.

The new jet service will be onboard the 50-passenger Canadair Regional Jets (CRJ200s) and will replace the existing 30-seat Embraer EMB-120 turboprops. SkyWest Airlines is phasing out its EMB-120 Brasilias.

The carrier on the same day is also replacing its Brasilias with CRJ200s on the Salt Lake City-Elko, Nevada route.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. SkyWest’s Bombardier CRJ200 (CL-600-2B19) N464SW (msn 7827) lands in Long Beach.

Delta Connection-SkyWest:

Air Wisconsin to start flying for Delta on January 5, 2015 (see update)

Air Wisconsin (Appleton) has apparently reached an agreement with Delta Air Lines to operate 26 Bombardier CRJ200s for Delta Air Lines as a new Delta Connection carrier according to Flightglobal. The first flight is expected to be launched on January 5, 2015 per ch-aviation (see update below). Delta or the Air Wisconsin Airlines Corporation has not yet made a formal announcement. The 26 CRJ200s will be transferred from Endeavor Air according to the report.

Air Wisconsin Airlines Corporation, founded in 1965, currently operates nearly 500 departures per day system-wide to 26 states and three Canadian provinces in partnership with US Airways. With service to approximately 70 cities throughout North America, Air Wisconsin carries nearly 6 million passengers per year.

The airline currently operates 71 Bombardier (Canadair) CRJ200 regional jets. The company has maintenance bases at Milwaukee, Norfolk, Philadelphia and Columbia, SC. Crews are domiciled at New York (LaGuardia), Washington (Reagan National), Philadelphia and Norfolk.

Update: Ch-aviation is now reporting Air Wisconsin will not start flying for Delta on January 5, 2015. It is unclear if this agreement was finalized.

Current Route Map: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum/AirlinersGallery.com. Air Wisconsin currently has only one customer, US Airways. It previously operated for United Airlines and AirTran Airways in the past. Air Wisconsin commenced independent stand-alone operations on August 8, 1965 but no longer operates any aircraft in its brand. Bombardier CRJ200 (CL-600-2B19) N403AW (msn 7288), in US Airways Express colors, departs from the Charlotte hub.

Air Wisconsin aircraft slide show:

http://airlinersgallery.smugmug.com/Airlines-UnitedStates-1/Airlines-UnitedStates-1/Air-Wisconson

US Airways Express-Air Wisconsin aircraft slide show:

Delta continues its Seattle/Tacoma expansion, announces 5 new routes

Delta Air Lines (Atlanta) will launch daily nonstop service next spring from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to five new destinations in the continued expansion of its West Coast hub.

Delta’s new service will include:

Five daily flights to Denver, beginning June 4*
Four daily flights to Sacramento, Calif., beginning May 4* **
Four daily flights to Boise, Idaho, beginning May 4**
One seasonal daily flight to Ketchikan, Alaska beginning May 15**
One seasonal daily flight to Sitka, Alaska beginning May 15**

*Flight operated by Delta Connection carrier Compass Airlines
**Flight operated by Delta Connection carrier SkyWest Airlines

Delta will serve the top 15 destinations in the Western U.S. with the addition of Boise, Denver and Sacramento, while Ketchikan and Sitka complete the top five destinations in Alaska. Delta will also increase its number of daily flights from Seattle/Tacoma to Anchorage, Alaska; Atlanta; Calgary, Alberta; Detroit; Los Angeles; San Francisco and Salt Lake City.

On December 20, Delta will begin service from Seattle/Tacoma to several sun and ski destinations, including Bozeman, Mont.**; Maui, Hawaii; Palm Springs, Calif.**; Phoenix**; Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; and Tucson, Ariz.*; as well as a second daily flight to Honolulu. Additionally, Delta commenced service to Calgary** and Spokane, Wash.* **, at the beginning of November.

*Flight operated by Delta Connection carrier Compass Airlines
**Flight operated by Delta Connection carrier SkyWest Airlines

Delta currently operates 80 peak-day departures to 25 destinations from Seattle and will increase to 93 peak-day departures to 32 destinations in December. By next summer, Delta will offer 120 peak-day departures to 35 destinations.

The new routes will allow customers to seamlessly connect to Delta’s ten long-haul international flights from Seattle, while providing compelling travel options to cities important to local customers. Earlier this year, Delta launched international service to London-Heathrow, as well as Seoul and Hong Kong and now provides more international long-haul service from Seattle than all other airlines combined. This includes the top five destinations in Asia and three of the top four destinations in Europe. Delta is the only carrier to offer nonstop service from Seattle to Amsterdam, Hong Kong, Paris, Shanghai and Tokyo-Haneda.

Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum/AirlinersGallery.com. Compass Airlines is already operating several routes at SeaTac as a Delta Connection carrier with its Embraer 175s. ERJ 170-200LR N608CZ (msn 17000195) taxies to the runway at SEA.

Delta Air Lines (current livery):

Delta Connection-Compass:

Delta to remain at Dallas Love Field until (at least) the end of the year

Delta Air Lines (Atlanta) has won a reprieve with the City of Dallas. The airline will be able to retain Delta Connection service to the Atlanta hub from Love Field in Dallas through the end of this year according to the Dallas News.

Last week as we reported, Delta had received notice from the airport that it had to vacate the airport on October 13. The carrier had been subleasing two gates from American Airlines which go to Virgin America on this date.

Delta had been threatening to sue the airport according to the report.

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

Read the analysis by Bloomberg Businessweek: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum/AirlinersGallery.com. The route is operated with Bombardier CRJ200s operated by ExpressJet Airlines (formerly ASA). Bombardier CRJ200 (CL-600-2B19) N848AS (msn 7339) arrives in Atlanta.

Delta Air Lines:

Delta Connection:

Delta to restore Los Angeles-Dallas/Fort Worth flights on November 3 via Compass Airlines

Delta Air Lines (Atlanta) has confirmed it will launch twice-daily nonstop service from Los Angeles to San Antonio, Texas, beginning on April 7, 2015 as previously reported. The San Antonio service complements Delta’s daily service from Los Angeles to Dallas/Fort Worth, which relaunches on November 3, and the addition of a third daily flight between Los Angeles and Austin, Texas, beginning on November 2. All flights are operated by Delta Connection carrier Compass Airlines (Minneapolis/St. Paul).

With the addition of San Antonio and Dallas/Fort Worth service, Delta customers will have access to nine daily departures to three destinations between Los Angeles and Texas, including:

Four daily flights to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport
Three daily flights to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport
Two daily flights to San Antonio International Airport

In the last year, Delta has significantly expanded its network from LAX, adding service to Austin; Boise, Idaho; and San Salvador, El Salvador; increasing the number of flights from destinations it already serves; and expanding to year-round service in Boston. Delta will also launch service from LA to Monterrey, Mexico, in November. Last fall, Delta expanded its service from Los Angeles to San Francisco with the launch of its hourly, nonstop Delta Shuttle product. In October, Delta will launch international service from LAX to London-Heathrow as part of its joint venture partnership with Virgin Atlantic Airways. Service to Austin, Boise, Monterrey and San Francisco is operated by Delta Connection carriers Compass Airlines and SkyWest Airlines.

Delta has also made significant enhancements to its Los Angeles service both on the ground and in the air in the past few years. Travelers through Los Angeles will enjoy the benefits of the $229 million expansion and enhancement of Terminal 5 at LAX. The current project will double the size of the ticketing lobby and screening checkpoints and open an exclusive Sky Priority lobby and checkpoint. It also will include renovations to the Delta Sky Club and new baggage carousels. The project is scheduled to take place in several phases, with the west lobby to be completed in November.

Delta currently operates 140 peak-day departures to 47 destinations from LAX, and every flight offers BusinessElite/First Class and Economy Comfort seating. Nearly every domestic flight features Wi-Fi service, and Delta now offers customers free entertainment from every seat out of LA through its new Delta Studio product.

Copyright Photo: Wingnut/AirlinersGallery.com. In this unusual view, Compass Airlines’ Embraer ERJ 170-200LR (ERJ 175) N620CZ (msn 17000214) taxies at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

Delta Air Lines (current):

Delta Connection-Compass:

Delta to offer Los Angeles-Monterrey, Mexico Embraer 175 service

Delta Air Lines (Atlanta) starting on November 2 will offer daily nonstop Los Angeles-Monterrey, Mexico Delta Connection Embraer 175 jet service according to Airline Route.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Subsidiary Compass Airlines’ Embraer ERJ 170-200LR (ERJ 175) N610CZ (msn 17000198) departs from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

Delta Connection/Compass:

Delta Air Lines (current):

Video: According to Delta: “Hop on the Delta Shuttle® between Los Angeles (LAX) and San Francisco at your convenience—flights depart all day long and are available with First Class and Economy Comfort™ seating options.

You’ll enjoy complimentary LUVO™ snacks, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. craft beer, wine, spirits, Starbucks® coffee, exclusive check-in, priority security and more.*

*A portion of travel for some itineraries may be on the Delta Connection® carrier Compass Airlines dba Delta Shuttle.”