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Continental Express is the operating name brand of a number of independently owned regional airlines providing regional jet feeder service in association with Continental Airlines. Currently, two carriers operate using the Continental Express brand name:
Continental Express, operated by ExpressJet and Chautauqua, offers service to approximately 150 destinations in the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean, from Continental's hubs in Houston, Newark and Cleveland. ExpressJet operates exclusively as a Continental Express carrier, while Chautauqua also operates flights as Delta Connection, United Express, US Airways Express, and American Connection.
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Continental Express/ExpressJet was at one time a fully owned subsidiary of the holding corporation in control of Continental Airlines. In this previous incarnation before its divestiture Continental Express flew turbo-prop aircraft such as the EMB-120 Brasilia, ATR-42/72 and Beech 1900. Continental Express/ExpressJet was formed through the merger of four separate commuter airlines that were wholly owned by Continental: Provincetown-Boston Airlines, of Hyannis, MA, Bar Harbor Airlines, of Bangor, ME, Britt Airways, of Terre Haute, IN, and Rocky Mountain Airways, of Denver, CO. Continental Airlines now contracts with other airlines such as Cape Air, of Hyannis, MA, CommutAir, of Burlington, VT, Gulfstream International, of Fort Lauderdale, FL, and Colgan Air, of Manassas, VA to operate non-jet aircraft as Continental Connection on short-haul routes.
In the past, other airlines, such as Trans-Colorado Airlines of Denver, CO, Royale Airlines of Shreveport, LA, Air New Orleans, of New Orleans, LA, Emerald Airlines, of Houston, TX, Mid-Pacific Airlines, of Honolulu, HI, Presidential Airways, of Washington DC, City Express, of Toronto, Ontario, Colgan Airways, of Manassas, VA, and Gull Air, of Hyannis, MA, have used the Continental Express name. GP Express, of Grand Island, NE, and American Eagle Airlines, of Los Angeles, CA have also operated as Continental Connection carriers.
ExpressJet Holdings announced on December 28, 2005 that they received notice from Continental Airlines of its intention to reduce by 69 the number of aircraft ExpressJet will operate for Continental under the companies' capacity purchase agreement. Per the agreement, ExpressJet could return the aircraft to Continental, or lease them from Continental at a higher rate and operate as a regional feeder for another airline.
As announced by Continental, the withdrawal of aircraft from the agreement was expected to begin in January 2007 and be completed during summer 2007. Simultaneously, Continental announced its intention to request proposals from other regional carriers to lease and operate the returned aircraft, beginning in January 2007. Continental announced in April 2006 that Chautauqua Airlines had been awarded a contract to operate the 69 aircraft owned by Continental.
ExpressJet later announced their intention to maintain operating the 69 aircraft independently, at increased lease rates. As such, scrambled with much difficulty to find suitable 50-seat aircraft to cover their obligations. Chautauqua was forced to add a new fleet type because ExpressJet retained their ERJs.
In July 2006, Continental Airlines announced a new contract, in which Chautauqua Airlines will provide and operate regional jets as a Continental Express carrier. [5] Therefore, as of 2007, Continental Express will consist of 205 aircraft operated by Expressjet Airlines, and 25 aircraft operated by Chautauqua.
By 2008 however, ExpressJet decided to end all of its independent flying and operate all flights once again as a Continental Express carrier.
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