Trans States Holdings

Trans States Holdings is a privately owned United States aviation holding company headquartered in Bridgeton, Missouri, near St. Louis Lambert International Airport. Its business has centered on regional airline operations: providing short-haul passenger services under the brands and network identities of larger airline partners rather than operating primarily as a consumer-facing mainline carrier. The group has been associated with Trans States Airlines, GoJet Airlines, and Compass Airlines, giving it a history that spans several generations of United States regional-airline contracting. The group's operating history is rooted in Trans States Airlines, which began in 1982 as Resort Air. Resort Air entered into an agreement with Trans World Airlines to provide feeder services in Missouri and Illinois under the Trans World Express brand. This arrangement reflected the standard structure of the United States regional-airline sector, in which an independent operator supplies aircraft, crews, and operational services while flights are marketed through a major airline's regional brand. In 1989, Resort Air adopted the name Trans States Airlines, aligning the operating company more closely with the Trans States identity. Trans States Holdings later expanded its portfolio by establishing GoJet Airlines in 2005. GoJet was created to operate regional feeder services for United Airlines under the United Express brand, initially using Bombardier CRJ700 aircraft configured for approximately 70 passengers. The launch gave the holding company a significant presence in United's regional network and added a newer regional-jet platform to its portfolio. By 2006, the group's operations had moved to an all-regional-jet fleet, following an earlier period in which its airlines had operated turboprop aircraft. In July 2010, Trans States Holdings acquired Compass Airlines from Delta Air Lines. The transaction formed part of a broader cost-reduction and portfolio-restructuring initiative by Delta; in the same period, Mesaba Airlines was sold to Pinnacle Airlines Corporation. Compass had operated regional services connected with major airline networks, and its ownership by Trans States Holdings expanded the group's operating footprint beyond its original Trans States Airlines and GoJet activities. The group was substantially reduced during the COVID-19 pandemic. In March 2020, Trans States Holdings announced that Trans States Airlines would end operations and close on April 1, 2020, while Compass Airlines would cease operations and close on April 5, 2020. A maintenance hangar at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport also closed in April 2020. GoJet Airlines remained the holding company's only operating airline after those closures. The shutdowns illustrated the severe effect of the pandemic and the resulting collapse in demand and contracted flying on regional carriers. Trans States Holdings is therefore best understood as an aviation operating group rather than a conventional passenger brand. Its importance lies in the regional-airline infrastructure it has owned and operated, the major-airline partnerships under which its carriers flew, and its role in the consolidation and restructuring of the United States regional-airline market. Reference material identifies the group as operating an all-narrow-body regional-jet fleet totaling 60 aircraft as of November 2025, although detailed fleet allocation by operating company is not specified here.

The operating history associated with Trans States Holdings began in 1982, when Resort Air was established. Resort Air entered an agreement with Trans World Airlines to provide feeder services in Missouri and Illinois under the Trans World Express identity. This model placed the company within the expanding United States regional-airline system, where smaller carriers operated short-haul flights connecting local communities to the networks of major airlines. In 1989, Resort Air changed its name to Trans States Airlines. The renamed airline continued to develop as a regional operator and became the historical foundation of the Trans States group. The company operated turboprop aircraft during part of its early history, but had moved to an all-regional-jet fleet by 2006. Its business remained closely linked to contracts and branding arrangements with larger airlines rather than to an independent nationwide consumer brand. Trans States Holdings formed GoJet Airlines in 2005. GoJet was established specifically to provide feeder services for United Airlines under the United Express brand and initially operated Bombardier CRJ700 aircraft seating approximately 70 passengers. The creation of GoJet expanded the group into a newer regional-jet operating platform and strengthened its relationship with United's domestic network. The holding company expanded again in July 2010 when it purchased Compass Airlines from Delta Air Lines. Delta's sale was part of a cost-reduction program. The transaction occurred alongside Delta's sale of Mesaba Airlines to Pinnacle Airlines Corporation, reflecting the broader consolidation and reorganization of regional-airline ownership at the time. With Compass added to its portfolio, Trans States Holdings controlled three regional airline operations: Trans States Airlines, GoJet Airlines, and Compass Airlines. The COVID-19 pandemic brought a sharp contraction in United States air travel and regional-airline demand. In March 2020, Trans States Holdings announced that Trans States Airlines would end operations and close on April 1. Compass Airlines followed with a cessation of operations and closure on April 5. The group also closed a maintenance hangar at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in April. After these events, GoJet Airlines was the only operating airline associated with the holding company. The group's subsequent profile is consequently narrower than it was before 2020. Trans States Holdings remains identified with regional airline operations and GoJet, while Trans States Airlines and Compass Airlines are former portfolio companies that ceased operating. Reference material reports an all-narrow-body regional-jet fleet of 60 aircraft as of November 2025, but does not provide a full aircraft-by-aircraft allocation or detailed financial information. The company is privately owned and headquartered in Bridgeton, Missouri, near St. Louis Lambert International Airport.

• 2025

  Reported regional-jet fleet

  [1]Trans States Holdingsen.wikipedia.org

  Reference material describes the holding company as operating 60 narrow-body regional aircraft as of November 2025.

• 2020

  Two operating airlines close

  [1]Trans States Holdingsen.wikipedia.org

  Trans States Airlines closes on April 1 and Compass Airlines closes on April 5 after pandemic-related economic disruption. A Louisville maintenance hangar also closes in April.

• 2010

  Compass Airlines joins the group

  [1]Trans States Holdingsen.wikipedia.org

  Trans States Holdings purchases Compass Airlines from Delta Air Lines in July.

• 2006

  The group completes its move to regional jets

  [1]Trans States Holdingsen.wikipedia.org

  Trans States Holdings has an all-regional-jet fleet after earlier use of turboprop aircraft.

• 2005

  GoJet Airlines is established

  [1]Trans States Holdingsen.wikipedia.org

  Trans States Holdings creates GoJet Airlines to operate United Express feeder services using Bombardier CRJ700 regional jets.

• 1989

  Resort Air becomes Trans States Airlines

  [1]Trans States Holdingsen.wikipedia.org

  The regional carrier changes its name to Trans States Airlines.

• 1982

  Resort Air is formed

  [1]Trans States Holdingsen.wikipedia.org

  Resort Air begins operations and enters an agreement with Trans World Airlines to provide feeder services in Missouri and Illinois under the Trans World Express brand.

Regional airline holding company focused on contracted feeder flying and operation of regional jet services for major airline partners.

• Regional airline · 2005

  GoJet Airlines

  GoJet Airlines is the operating airline created by Trans States Holdings in 2005 to provide feeder services for United Airlines under the United Express brand. It was launched with Bombardier CRJ700 regional jets seating approximately 70 passengers. After Trans States Airlines and Compass Airlines ceased operations in April 2020, GoJet became the holding company's only operating airline identified in the reference material.

• Regional airline · 1982

  Trans States Airlines

  Trans States Airlines was the principal historical operating company associated with the Trans States group. It originated as Resort Air in 1982, providing feeder services for Trans World Airlines under the Trans World Express identity in Missouri and Illinois. The company adopted the Trans States Airlines name in 1989 and later operated regional jets. It ceased operations and closed on April 1, 2020, during the COVID-19-related downturn.

• Regional airline

  Compass Airlines

  Compass Airlines became part of Trans States Holdings when Delta Air Lines sold it to the group in July 2010. It was one of the holding company's regional airline operating businesses and formed part of the group's expanded portfolio alongside Trans States Airlines and GoJet Airlines. Compass ceased operations and closed on April 5, 2020, following the severe disruption to air travel caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

• 2020

  Contraction to a single operating airlineStrategy

  Background

  The COVID-19 pandemic caused a major decline in air travel and severely affected regional-airline economics.

  Action taken

  Trans States Holdings announced the closure of Trans States Airlines on April 1 and Compass Airlines on April 5, and also closed a Louisville maintenance hangar in April.

  Aftermath

  GoJet Airlines remained the holding company's only operating airline identified in the reference material.

  Source

• 2010

  Acquisition of Compass AirlinesM&A

  Background

  Delta Air Lines sold Compass Airlines as part of a cost-reduction and regional-airline portfolio restructuring effort.

  Action taken

  Trans States Holdings acquired Compass Airlines in July 2010.

  Aftermath

  Compass became part of a three-airline Trans States portfolio that also included Trans States Airlines and GoJet Airlines.

  Source

• 2005

  Launch of GoJet AirlinesProduct launch

  Background

  Trans States Holdings sought to operate regional feeder services for United Airlines within the United Express system.

  Action taken

  The group formed GoJet Airlines and began its operation with Bombardier CRJ700 regional jets.

  Aftermath

  GoJet became the group's continuing operating airline after Trans States Airlines and Compass Airlines closed in 2020.

  Source

1. 1Trans States Holdingsen.wikipedia.org