Trans States Airlines

Trans States Airlines was a U.S. regional airline that operated feeder and code-share flights for larger network carriers from 1982 until its closure in 2020. The company began as Resort Air, serving communities around Missouri with Swearingen Metro turboprop aircraft from a St. Louis base. Its early identity reflected the tourism and regional transport needs of the Lake of the Ozarks area, a connection retained in its later call sign, “Waterski,” and its ICAO code, “LOF,” derived from Lodge of the Four Seasons. In 1985, Resort Air entered an agreement with Trans World Airlines to operate under the Trans World Express brand. This relationship transformed the airline from a small independent commuter carrier into a larger regional feeder serving TWA’s St. Louis network. The company adopted the name Trans States Airlines in 1989 and progressively replaced its original Metro aircraft with BAe Jetstream 31 and 41 aircraft, ATR 42 and ATR 72 turboprops, Fairchild Metroliners and Embraer EMB 120s. In 1999, Embraer ERJ 145 regional jets were introduced, enabling longer and faster routes within the Trans World Express system. Trans States expanded beyond St. Louis during the 1990s. It operated USAir Express services from Los Angeles between 1993 and 2000, connecting Southern California destinations with BAe Jetstream aircraft. From 1995, it also operated code-share feeder services from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport for Trans World Express and United Express. By the end of the decade, it was operating Delta Connection services from JFK with ERJ 145 jets and Jetstream 41 turboprops, while also performing US Airways Express flying from Pittsburgh. TWA’s merger into American Airlines in December 2001 changed the company’s network. Trans States’ former Trans World Express flying was rebranded as American Connection, but American later dismantled the St. Louis hub inherited from TWA. American Connection operations ended in 2009. The airline also briefly operated a United Express hub at San Antonio in 2006, and in 2015 established a United Express hub at Denver. It carried approximately 3.6 million passengers in 2015, according to the referenced Wikipedia material. The carrier increasingly concentrated on United Express flying and became an all-jet operator. Its late-period fleet was centered on Embraer ERJ 145 regional jets, including aircraft transferred from other operators. Trans States Holdings also pursued a major future-fleet program, announcing an order for Mitsubishi regional jets in 2009, but that order was cancelled in 2019 amid concerns related to U.S. airline scope-clause restrictions. In February 2020, Trans States announced plans to wind down gradually and transfer its ERJ 145 fleet to ExpressJet under an agreement with United Airlines. The COVID-19 pandemic sharply accelerated the process. On March 17, 2020, chief executive Rick Leach informed employees that the airline would end operations on April 1 rather than continue the planned gradual closure. Its final flight was United Express Flight 4695 from Springfield, Missouri, to Denver, Colorado. Trans States Airlines ceased operating on April 1, 2020. Its sister carrier Compass Airlines also shut down shortly afterward, leaving GoJet Airlines as the only operating airline within Trans States Holdings at that point.

Trans States Airlines traces its origins to Resort Air, which began operations in 1982 as an independent commuter carrier based in the St. Louis area. The airline used Swearingen Metro turboprops to connect St. Louis with smaller cities in Missouri and Illinois, including Carbondale, Columbia, Fort Leonard Wood, Joplin, Lake of the Ozarks, Springfield, Illinois, and Springfield, Missouri. A major turning point came in 1985, when Resort Air entered a partnership with Trans World Airlines and began operating as Trans World Express. The arrangement gave the company access to TWA’s St. Louis hub and expanded its role from local commuter operator to regional code-share provider. In 1989, Resort Air adopted the Trans States Airlines name. During the late 1980s and 1990s, its fleet diversified substantially. ATR 42 and ATR 72 aircraft, BAe Jetstream 31 and 41 aircraft, Fairchild Metroliners and Embraer EMB 120 turboprops supplemented or replaced the original Metro fleet. Embraer ERJ 145 regional jets entered the Trans World Express operation in 1999. The airline developed several out-of-market operations. In 1993, it started USAir Express flying from Los Angeles to destinations in California. That West Coast operation continued until 2000. In 1995, Trans States began operating from New York JFK as a feeder for both Trans World Express and United Express. By 1999, it also flew for Delta Connection from JFK, serving a broad set of northeastern and mid-Atlantic destinations with ERJ 145 and Jetstream aircraft. US Airways Express flying was also conducted from Pittsburgh. TWA’s 2001 merger with American Airlines caused Trans States’ TWA-branded flights to become American Connection services. American subsequently dismantled the former TWA St. Louis hub, and American Connection operations ended in 2009. Trans States also operated a small United Express hub at San Antonio in 2006, linking the city with destinations across the central and southern United States. The business increasingly shifted toward United Express operations. In 2015, the airline opened a Denver hub and carried approximately 3.6 million passengers during that year. Fleet development moved toward regional jets, particularly the Embraer ERJ 145, while older turboprop types were retired. In 2009, parent company Trans States Holdings announced plans to acquire Mitsubishi MRJ aircraft, but the order was ultimately cancelled in 2019 because of uncertainty over compliance with U.S. scope-clause requirements. Trans States announced in February 2020 that it intended to cease operations progressively and transfer ERJ 145 aircraft to ExpressJet under an agreement with United Airlines. The collapse in air travel caused by the COVID-19 pandemic made that timetable impossible. On March 17, chief executive Rick Leach announced that operations would end on April 1, 2020. The final flight, United Express Flight 4695 from Springfield, Missouri, to Denver, operated on that date. Trans States Airlines therefore ended an almost four-decade history as a regional capacity provider. Its affiliated Compass Airlines also ceased operations in April 2020, while GoJet Airlines remained the operating airline within Trans States Holdings.

• 2020

  Operations cease

  [1]Trans States Airlinesen.wikipedia.org

  The airline ends all operations on April 1 after the COVID-19 pandemic accelerates its previously announced wind-down plan.

• 2019

  Mitsubishi aircraft order cancelled

  [1]Trans States Airlinesen.wikipedia.org

  The parent company cancels its Mitsubishi SpaceJet order over concerns connected with U.S. scope-clause restrictions.

• 2015

  Denver United Express hub begins

  [1]Trans States Airlinesen.wikipedia.org

  Trans States starts a United Express hub operation at Denver and reports approximately 3.6 million passengers for the year.

• 2009

  American Connection operations end

  [1]Trans States Airlinesen.wikipedia.org

  American dismantles the former TWA St. Louis hub, and Trans States’ American Connection flying ends.

• 2001

  TWA merges into American Airlines

  [1]Trans States Airlinesen.wikipedia.org

  Trans States’ Trans World Express flying is rebranded as American Connection following TWA’s merger with American Airlines.

• 1999

  ERJ 145 regional jets enter service

  [1]Trans States Airlinesen.wikipedia.org

  Embraer ERJ 145 aircraft are added to the Trans World Express network, extending the airline’s reach beyond its earlier turboprop operations.

• 1993

  USAir Express operation launches at Los Angeles

  [1]Trans States Airlinesen.wikipedia.org

  The airline begins West Coast USAir Express services from Los Angeles International Airport.

• 1989

  Company renamed Trans States Airlines

  [1]Trans States Airlinesen.wikipedia.org

  Resort Air adopts the Trans States Airlines name as its regional airline business expands.

• 1985

  Trans World Express partnership begins

  [1]Trans States Airlinesen.wikipedia.org

  Resort Air enters an operating agreement with Trans World Airlines and begins flying as Trans World Express.

• 1982

  Resort Air begins operations

  [1]Trans States Airlinesen.wikipedia.org

  The company starts as an independent commuter airline serving Missouri and Illinois from a St. Louis base with Swearingen Metro aircraft.

Regional airline and capacity provider linking smaller communities with major airline hubs through branded code-share operations.

• Regional passenger aviation

  United Express regional flights

  Trans States’ principal late-period offering was scheduled regional flying marketed under United Express. The airline connected smaller and medium-sized communities with United’s hubs, using Embraer ERJ 145 regional jets and operating as a capacity provider rather than selling a fully independent network under its own consumer brand.

• Regional passenger aviation · 1985

  Trans World Express

  Trans World Express was the company’s foundational major-airline code-share operation. From the mid-1980s, Trans States fed TWA’s St. Louis hub, initially with commuter turboprops and later with larger ATR aircraft and Embraer regional jets. The operation was rebranded American Connection after TWA joined American Airlines.

• Regional passenger aviation · 2001

  American Connection

  Following TWA’s merger into American Airlines, Trans States operated former Trans World Express services as American Connection. The operation served as a regional feeder for American until the airline’s former TWA hub structure was dismantled; Trans States’ American Connection flying ended in 2009.

• Regional passenger aviation · 1993

  USAir Express and US Airways Express

  Trans States operated regional flights under USAir Express and later US Airways Express at locations including Los Angeles and Pittsburgh. These services used turboprops and regional jets to connect smaller markets with major airline hubs and were later affected by the American-US Airways merger.

• Regional passenger aviation · 1999

  Delta Connection services

  At New York JFK, Trans States operated Delta Connection code-share flights using Embraer ERJ 145 jets and BAe Jetstream 41 turboprops. The schedule connected New York with destinations in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and nearby regions.

• 2020

  Accelerate cessation of operationsStrategy

  Background

  The airline had announced a gradual closure and planned to transfer its ERJ 145 aircraft to ExpressJet under an agreement with United Airlines. The COVID-19 pandemic caused an abrupt collapse in aviation demand.

  Action taken

  Management accelerated the shutdown and announced that all Trans States Airlines operations would end on April 1, 2020.

  Aftermath

  The airline operated its final United Express flight on April 1 and ceased to exist as an operating carrier. Aircraft intended for ExpressJet were later transferred onward after ExpressJet also shut down.

  Source

• 2019

  Cancel Mitsubishi SpaceJet orderOther

  Background

  Changes and uncertainty surrounding U.S. pilot scope clauses raised questions about whether the ordered aircraft could be operated economically within the regional-airline model.

  Action taken

  Trans States Holdings cancelled its Mitsubishi SpaceJet order.

  Aftermath

  The planned fleet renewal did not proceed, and Trans States continued toward a later wind-down centered on its existing ERJ 145 operation.

  Source

• 2009

  Order Mitsubishi MRJ regional jetsStrategy

  Background

  Trans States Holdings sought a new-generation regional jet fleet and announced an order for 50 Mitsubishi MRJ90 aircraft, with options for 50 more and conversion rights to the smaller MRJ70.

  Action taken

  The group placed the aircraft order while retaining flexibility over seating configuration depending on the U.S. scope-clause environment.

  Aftermath

  The order was cancelled in 2019 because of concerns that the Mitsubishi SpaceJet M90 configuration would not comply with applicable U.S. scope-clause limits.

  Source

1. 1Trans States Airlinesen.wikipedia.org