Continental Express

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Continental Express is the operating name of the regional airlines providing jet feeder service for Continental Airlines. Currently only ExpressJet Airlines operates under this name, but beginning in 2007, Chautauqua Airlines will also fly for Continental using the Continental Express name. With service to approximately 150 destinations in the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean, ExpressJet operates all of Continental’s small jet service from its hubs in Houston, New York/Newark and Cleveland, with additional non-hub service.

ExpressJet operates a fleet of 274 Embraer-145 and -135 aircraft. ExpressJet in its previous existence as Continental Express flew turbo-props aircraft such as the ATR-42 and Beech 1900, but Continental Airlines now contracts with other airlines such as CommutAir, Gulfstream International, and Colgan Air to operate prop aircraft as Continental Connection on short-haul routes.

Continental Express airlines share the Continental hubs: Cleveland, Ohio's Hopkins International Airport, Houston, Texas's George Bush Intercontinental Airport, and Newark, New Jersey's Newark Liberty International Airport.

In the past, other airlines, such as Trans Colorado Airlines had used the Continental Express name. Trans Colorado Airlines operated in the 1970's and 80's, when Continental had hub operations in Stapleton Airport in Denver, Colorado. Continental did not move their hub to the new Denver International Airport due to high landing fees.

[edit] Destinations

Main article: Continental Express destinations

[edit] Fleet

ExpressJet Holdings announced on Dec. 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, Continental's announced contract with Chautauqua has been voided. ExpressJet has not announced where or for whom they will fly the aircraft, but they are in talks with European airlines to operate as a capacity-purchase feeder. [1]

In July 2006, Continental Airlines announced a new contract, in which Chautauqua Airlines will provide and operate regional jets as a Continental Express carrier. [2] Therefore, as of 2007, Continental Express will consist of 205 aircraft operated by Expressjet Airlines, and 44 aircraft operated by Chautauqua. 20 of these aircraft will come from Chautauqua's US Airways Express operation, with the remaining 24 to be Bombardier CRJ-200 aircraft obtained on lease.