US Airways Express

US Airways Express was the brand name for the regional affiliate of US Airways, under which a number of individually owned commuter air carriers and regional airlines operate short and medium haul routes. This code sharing service was previously operated as USAir Express. Mainline carriers often outsource to regional airlines to operate services in order to increase frequency, serve routes that would not sustain larger aircraft, or for other competitive reasons. US Airways Express operations were conducted from smaller markets in the United States, Canada, and the Bahamas primarily centered on US Airways' major hubs and focus cities. Upon the completion of US Airways' merger process with American Airlines, US Airways Express was rebranded as American Eagle on October 17, 2015.[3]

US Airways Express
IATA ICAO Callsign
See Operators See Operators See Operators
Founded1967
Ceased operationsOctober 17, 2015 (merged with American Eagle)
Hubs
Frequent-flyer program
  • Dividend Miles
AllianceStar Alliance (affiliate; 2004-2014)
Oneworld (affiliate; 2014-2015)[1]
Fleet size275 [2]
Destinations140 [2]
Parent companyAmerican Airlines Group
HeadquartersTempe, Arizona
Key peopleDoug Parker (CEO)
Derek Kerr (CFO)
WebsiteArchived official website at the Wayback Machine (archive index)

History
Saab 340 in previous US Airways Express livery, 2005.

US Airways Express traced its beginnings to 1967, when Henson Airlines began operating as Allegheny Commuter for Allegheny Airlines, predecessor to US Airways. The initial route was Baltimore-Hagerstown.[4] This is generally credited as the industry's first code-share agreement and the first major airline to use another airline as its commuter partner.[5] Henson Airlines was the major predecessor to today's US Airways Express carrier Piedmont Airlines.

Pacific Southwest Airlines and Piedmont Airlines were both major carriers that merged with USAir, which later became US Airways, and the corporate names were retained to protect their trademarks. However, the routes, aircraft, and other characteristics of the rebranded regional carriers bear no relation to their namesakes.

The aircraft livery of US Airways Express aircraft is identical to US Airways' mainline colors except for the word Express which is attached to the basic US Airways livery. In April 2013, an internal memo distributed to American Eagle employees at American Airlines Group's subsidiaries: (OW) Executive Airlines and American Eagle; indicated the US Airways Express banner and marketing brand, were expected to be discontinued although the remaining and independently operating airline subsidiaries, were expected to continue but operated with American Eagle branded colors.[6]

Destinations
Main article: List of US Airways Express destinations

Operators and fleet
US Airways Express fleet[7][8]
Airline IATA Service ICAO Code Callsign Aircraft In fleet Passengers Parent
F Y Total
Air Wisconsin ZW AWI Wisconsin Bombardier CRJ-200 70 – 50 50 CJT Holdings
Mesa Airlines YV ASH Air Shuttle Bombardier CRJ-900 47 9 70 79 Mesa Air Group
6 70 76
Piedmont Airlines PT PDT Piedmont Dash 8-100 32 – 37 37 US Airways Group
Dash 8-300 11 – 50 50
PSA Airlines OH JIA Blue Streak Bombardier CRJ-200 35 – 50 50 US Airways Group
Bombardier CRJ-700 14 9 58 67
Republic Airways YX RPA Brickyard Embraer E170 20 9 60 69 Republic Airways Holdings
Embraer E175 38 8 72 80
SkyWest Airlines OO SKW SkyWest Bombardier CRJ-200 10 – 50 50 SkyWest, Inc.
Bombardier CRJ-900 4 6 70 76
Total 275

Former airlines

Airlines which have previously operated as US Airways Express, USAir Express or predecessors include:

Airline Years of Operation Aircraft Operated Information
Air Midwest 1990–2008 Beechcraft 1900D Subsidiary of Mesa Air Group
Allegheny Airlines Ended 2004 Dash 8 Merged into Piedmont Airlines
CCAir 1987–2002 Cessna 402
Beechcraft Model 99
Short 330
Short 360
BAe Jetstream 32
Dash 8
Beechcraft 1900D
CommutAir 1989–2000 Beechcraft 1900D Now flying under United Express[9]
FloridaGulf Airlines 1991–1997 Beechcraft 1900D
Embraer EMB-120		 Merged into Air Midwest
Liberty Express Airlines 1994–1997 Beechcraft 1900D Merged into Air Midwest
Midway Airlines 2002–2003 Bombardier CRJ-100
MidAtlantic Airways 2000–2006 Dash 8-200
Embraer E170
Paradise Island Airlines 1989–1997 Dash 7
Ransome Airlines 1973–1982 Volpar Beech 18
Nord 262
Mohawk 298
Dash 7
Shuttle America 2001–2002 Dash 8-100
Saab 340		 Now operates as United Express and Delta Connection
StatesWest Airlines 1990–1993 Beechcraft 1900
Beechcraft 1300
Dash 8
Colgan Air/Mesaba Airlines 1999-2012 Saab 340

In addition, Trans States Airlines operated as US Airways Express into Los Angeles during the late 1990s flying BAe Jetstream 31 aircraft with service to several destinations in southern and central California.[10]

Accidents and incidents
  • January 3, 1992, CommutAir Flight 4821 a Raytheon Beech 1900C Airliner operating for USAir Express, was flying from Plattsburgh to Saranac Lake when it crashed into wooded mountaintop as it was landing at Adirondack Regional Airport. Of the 4 people on board (2 passengers and 2 crew) 2 died while the other 2 sustained serious injuries. The cause of the crash was determined to be pilot error in establishing a stabilized approach and cross-checking instruments.[11]
  • January 8, 2003, Air Midwest Flight 5481 a Beechcraft 1900D operated by Air Midwest as US Airways Express under a franchise agreement, crashed into an airport hangar and burst into flames 37 seconds after leaving Charlotte/Douglas International Airport located in Charlotte, North Carolina for Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport in Greer, South Carolina. All 19 passengers and 2 pilots aboard died in the crash.[12]
  • November 16, 2008, Flight 4551, a US Airways Express de Havilland Dash-8 turboprop operated by Piedmont Airlines, took off from Lehigh Valley International Airport at 8:20am heading to Philadelphia International Airport, had to make an emergency landing. The flight crew was indicated that the front nose gear hadn't come down and had to make a flyover the runway for confirmation. Of 35 passengers and 3 crew, there were no injuries. The aircraft (N326EN) incurred only minor damage and was returned to service shortly thereafter.
  • January 1, 2011, US Airways Express Flight 4352, operated by Piedmont Airlines on a de Havilland Dash-8 turboprop forced an evacuation of the U.S. Capitol and fighter jets were scrambled from Andrews Air Force Base after Flight 4352 suffered radio problems on approach to Washington, DC's Washington–National and strayed into restricted airspace.[13][14] The Capitol was evacuated for approximately 20 minutes until the Dash-8 aircraft landed at Reagan National Airport.
  • May 18, 2013, US Airways Express Flight 4560 operated by Piedmont Airlines made a belly landing at Newark Liberty International Airport after landing gear would not extend. All passengers and crew members were evacuated safely.[15]

See also

References
  1. "US Airways to join oneworld on March 31, 2014". The Wall Street Journal. December 9, 2013.
  2. http://www.usairways.com/pv_obj_cache/pv_obj_id_003CA5F905508AB441350AD4D36958D0CD1D0100/filename/express.pdf
  3. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/american-retire-us-airways-brand-191953255.html;_ylt=AwrC1TGNyalVZlgAhADQtDMD;_ylu=X3oDMTByZnU4cmNpBGNvbG8DYmYxBHBvcwM5BHZ0aWQDBHNlYwNzcg--
  4. "Aviation museum gives a glimpse of the WWII way of life for many". The Record Herald. Retrieved 26 May 2010.
  5. "History of People Express". Century of Flight. Retrieved 26 May 2010.
  6. American Eagle to employees: Be patient | Airline Biz Blog. Aviationblog.dallasnews.com (2013-04-09). Retrieved on 2013-08-16.
  7. Fact sheets. US Airways. Retrieved on 2013-12-28.
  8. "American Airlines Announces Large Regional Jet Purchase" (Press release). Fort Worth, TX: American Airlines, Inc. 2013-12-12. Retrieved 2014-05-22.
  9. "CommutAir". CommutAir. Retrieved 25 May 2010.
  10. http://www.departedflights.com, June 1, 1999 Official Airline Guide (OAG), Los Angeles flight schedules
  11. ASN Aircraft accident Beechcraft 1900C-1 N55000 Saranac Lake-Adirondack Airport, NY (SLK)
  12. "NTSB- Air Midwest Flight 5481". NTSB. Retrieved 25 May 2010.
  13. Sarah Brumfield (January 1, 2011). "Pilot error prompts evacuation of U.S. Capitol building". thestar.com. Toronto. Retrieved 2011-02-10.
  14. Mary Compton (January 1, 2011). "Jets Scrambled Over Capitol Hill Airspace Scare". ABC News. Retrieved 2011-02-10.
  15. NBC News (May 18, 2013). "Plane makes belly landing at Newark Airport, no injuries reported". Retrieved May 20, 2013.

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