Régional

Régional, formally Régional Compagnie Aérienne Européenne, was a French regional airline and an Air France-owned operating brand. It developed from the consolidation of several French regional carriers and scheduled aviation operations, including Air Exel, Air Vendée, Avions Taxis Pyrénéens and Air Aquitaine Transport. The resulting airline began operating as Regional Airlines on 1 January 1992. The company’s business was focused on scheduled short- and medium-haul passenger services linking French cities and European destinations. Its network was organized around Paris and Lyon, while its corporate headquarters remained at Nantes Atlantique Airport in Bouguenais, near Nantes. Régional connected those hubs with as many as 49 airports in Europe, providing regional capacity within the wider Air France network rather than competing primarily as an independent long-haul airline. A major structural change took place on 30 March 2001, when Regional Airlines, Flandre Air and Proteus Airlines combined their operations. In September 2001, the company adopted the legal name Régional Compagnie Aérienne Européenne and began using Régional as its principal marketing and trading name. The change reflected the consolidation of several regional operators into a larger platform capable of supporting Air France’s domestic and intra-European schedule. During the 2000s, Régional progressively modernized and simplified its fleet. The airline moved away from turboprop aircraft and increasingly concentrated on regional jet operations. Its two remaining Saab 2000 aircraft left the fleet in 2006, and its final Embraer EMB 120 turboprop was retired in 2008. Régional became the first European operator of the Embraer E190 when it received the first of six aircraft on 23 November 2006. It later introduced Embraer E170 aircraft, with the first delivered in September 2008. The EMB 120’s departure was followed by greater use of Embraer regional jets, including the ERJ-135. The airline generally operated services in close association with Air France, and its E190 aircraft flew domestic and intra-European routes in Air France colors. This relationship made Régional an important component of Air France’s regional feed and point-to-point network, while also limiting the visibility of Régional as a standalone consumer brand. On 31 March 2013, all Régional operations were rebranded under HOP!, an Air France-linked trademark. The rebranding ended Régional’s independent public identity, although the operating activities continued within the Air France regional structure. After negotiations involving Brit Air and Airlinair, HOP! became a fully registered air carrier in March 2017 and continued working closely with Air France. Régional is therefore best understood as a historical French regional-airline brand rather than an active airline today.

Régional emerged from the consolidation of French regional aviation businesses. It was established as Regional Airlines on 1 January 1992 through the merger of Air Exel, Air Vendée and Avions Taxis Pyrénéens, together with scheduled services operated by Air Aquitaine Transport. This origin gave the company a broad regional base rather than a single-airport or single-route identity. The airline expanded and consolidated further in 2001. On 30 March, Regional Airlines, Flandre Air and Proteus Airlines merged their operations. In September of the same year, the company changed its corporate name to Régional Compagnie Aérienne Européenne and adopted Régional as its commercial name. The consolidated carrier operated within the Air France orbit and provided regional connectivity for the broader Air France network. Régional was headquartered at Nantes Atlantique Airport in Bouguenais, adjacent to Nantes. Its scheduled network linked Paris and Lyon with French and European destinations, reaching 49 airports at its reported peak. Its role was primarily that of a regional passenger operator, connecting smaller markets with major hubs and providing short- and medium-haul capacity under an Air France relationship. Fleet strategy changed substantially during the 2000s. Régional considered alliances involving turboprop operators but increasingly emphasized jet aircraft. The two Saab 2000s remaining in the fleet were removed in 2006. In the same year, the airline became the first European operator of the Embraer E190, receiving the first of six aircraft on 23 November. The E190s were intended for domestic and intra-European services and operated in Air France colors. The airline later accepted its first Embraer E170 on 2 September 2008. Its last Embraer EMB 120 turboprop left the fleet on 10 October 2008, with regional jet types such as the ERJ-135 taking its place. The most serious event in the airline’s operating history occurred on 25 January 2007. Régional Flight 7775, a Fokker 100 flying from Pau to Paris, crashed shortly after takeoff. Everyone aboard escaped, but a truck driver on the ground was killed. France’s Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety determined that ice on the aircraft’s wings caused the accident. Régional’s standalone brand ended on 31 March 2013, when its operations were rebranded HOP!, an Air France-linked trademark. The rebranding was part of a broader effort to present Air France’s regional operations under a unified identity. Following negotiations with Brit Air and Airlinair, HOP! became a fully registered air carrier in March 2017 while continuing to work closely with Air France. Régional consequently became a historical brand absorbed into the later Air France regional structure.

• 2017

  HOP! becomes a fully registered air carrier

  [1]Régionalen.wikipedia.org

  After negotiations involving Régional’s former sister operators Brit Air and Airlinair, HOP! becomes a fully registered air carrier connected closely to Air France.

• 2013

  Operations rebranded HOP!

  [1]Régionalen.wikipedia.org

  Régional’s operations are placed under the HOP! brand, ending the Régional identity as a public-facing airline brand.

• 2008

  Turboprop fleet transition completed

  [1]Régionalen.wikipedia.org

  The final Embraer EMB 120 leaves the fleet, while the company continues introducing Embraer regional jets including the E170.

• 2006

  First European Embraer E190 operator

  [1]Régionalen.wikipedia.org

  Régional receives its first E190 and begins a major shift toward regional jet operations.

• 2001

  Operations consolidated with Flandre Air and Proteus Airlines

  [1]Régionalen.wikipedia.org

  Regional Airlines combines operations with Flandre Air and Proteus Airlines and later adopts the Régional corporate and trading identity.

• 1992

  Regional Airlines begins operations

  [1]Régionalen.wikipedia.org

  The airline is formed from the merger of Air Exel, Air Vendée, Avions Taxis Pyrénéens and scheduled operations of Air Aquitaine Transport.

An Air France-linked regional airline providing scheduled domestic and European passenger capacity, with an emphasis on regional jets and network connectivity through Paris and Lyon.

• Passenger air transport · 1992

  Scheduled domestic passenger services

  Régional operated scheduled flights between French cities, with Paris and Lyon serving as important network hubs. The airline’s role was to provide regional connectivity and feed traffic into the wider Air France network rather than operate as an independent long-haul carrier.

• Passenger air transport

  Intra-European regional services

  The airline connected French hubs with destinations across Europe. These short- and medium-haul services were operated using regional aircraft and formed part of Régional’s network of up to 49 European airports.

• Regional jet operations · 2006

  Embraer E190 services

  Régional introduced the Embraer E190 in November 2006, becoming the first European operator of the type. The 100-seat aircraft operated domestic and intra-European routes in Air France colors and represented the airline’s move toward larger regional jets.

• Regional jet operations · 2008

  Embraer E170 services

  The first Embraer E170 was delivered to Régional in September 2008. The aircraft supported the carrier’s regional-jet fleet strategy and displayed the company’s updated airline identity.

• 2013

  Rebranding as HOP!Strategy

  Background

  Air France sought to place its regional operations under a more unified consumer-facing identity.

  Action taken

  All Régional operations were rebranded HOP! on 31 March 2013.

  Aftermath

  Régional ceased to operate as a standalone public brand, while its regional activities continued within the Air France-linked HOP! structure.

  Source

• 2006

  Shift toward regional jetsGeneration change

  Background

  Régional was upgrading and consolidating its fleet while increasingly focusing on jetliner operations.

  Action taken

  The airline retired its remaining Saab 2000 aircraft and introduced the Embraer E190, becoming the first European operator of the type.

  Aftermath

  The fleet became more heavily centered on regional jets, with turboprop aircraft progressively removed from service.

  Source

• 2001

  Consolidation with Flandre Air and Proteus AirlinesM&A

  Background

  Regional aviation operations were being consolidated among several French carriers.

  Action taken

  Regional Airlines, Flandre Air and Proteus Airlines combined their operations, followed by the adoption of the Régional Compagnie Aérienne Européenne corporate name.

  Aftermath

  The transaction created the consolidated operating platform that traded publicly as Régional and operated in close association with Air France.

  Source

1. 1Régionalen.wikipedia.org