United Express

United Express

Founded	1985 (1985)
Hubs	Chicago–O'Hare Denver Houston–Intercontinental Los Angeles Newark San Francisco Washington–Dulles
Frequent-flyer program	MileagePlus
Alliance	Star Alliance (affiliate)
Fleet size	449
Parent company	United Airlines Holdings
Headquarters	Chicago, Illinois
Key people	Scott Kirby (CEO)
Website	united.com

United Express is the brand name for the regional branch of United Airlines, under which five individually owned regional airlines operate short- and medium-haul feeder flights.

On October 1, 2010, UAL Corporation and Continental Airlines merged to form United Continental Holdings, the holding company for the newly merged United Airlines. On June 27, 2019, United Express changed its parent company name from United Continental Holdings to United Airlines Holdings. As of 2024, 449 aircraft fly under the United Express brand.

History

United Express's 1985–1993 logo

United Express's 1993–1997 logo

United Express's 1997–2010 logo

Major airlines in the United States had long maintained relationships with regional carriers which fed passengers from small markets to larger cities. The Airline Deregulation Act spurred industry consolidation both vertically and horizontally, and as the hub system became more pronounced, airlines formalized these relationships through code sharing, shared branding, and listing regional partners in computer reservations systems. On May 1, 1985, United formally partnered with Air Wisconsin, Horizon Air, and WestAir as United Express, feeding its hubs at Chicago–O'Hare, Seattle International Airport, and San Francisco International Airport. Aspen Airways soon joined the United Express system in 1986 feeding United's hub at Denver–Stapleton. Aspen was dismantled in 1990 being sold to Air Wisconsin and Mesa Airlines. Horizon Air was bought out by Alaska Airlines in 1987 at which time Horizon's contract as United Express was cancelled and a new carrier, North Pacific Airlines (NPA), was established by WestAir to service the Seattle hub as well as hubs at Portland, Spokane, and Boise. NPA was merged into its parent, WestAir, in 1991. San Juan Airlines of Seattle and SouthCentral Air of Anchorage, Alaska, also operated as United Express from 1987 through 1989.

In 1988, Presidential Airways became a United Express carrier for United's new hub at Washington Dulles International Airport, but soon floundered. In response, WestAir formed an eastern division to serve Dulles. WestAir itself experienced turmoil; in 1991 it spun off the new division into an independent company, Atlantic Coast Airlines (ACA), which years later would go on to become Independence Air.

In 1990, Mesa Airlines took over all of the United Express routes from Denver formerly operated by Aspen Airways except the Denver to Aspen route which went to Air Wisconsin. Mesa also added a number of new routes from Denver as well. In 1992 Mesa created a new division called California Pacific Airlines to begin new United Express service from the Los Angeles hub. In 1995 Mesa took over all United Express routes at the Seattle and Portland hubs formerly operated by WestAir. Mesa Airlines contract operating as United Express was cancelled in 1998 at which time Air Wisconsin and Great Lakes Airlines took over the Denver routes while SkyWest took over the Los Angeles, Seattle, and Portland routes.

In 1992, Great Lakes Airlines became a United Express partner, followed by Trans States Airlines the following year. In 1997, as United officially designated Los Angeles International Airport one of its hubs, SkyWest Airlines became a United Express partner as well. Great Lakes left the United Express system in early 2002, although it continued to do codeshare flights until they ceased operations in 2018.

A United Express BAe 146-300 in the 1985–1993 livery at Washington Dulles International Airport in 1990, behind a mainline Douglas DC-8 and McDonnell Douglas DC-10.

A United Express Jetstream 31 painted in the 1993–2004 livery photographed at Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport

A United Express Bombardier CRJ700 painted in the 2004–2010 livery at one of United Express's hubs, Chicago's O'Hare International Airport

In 1993, Trans States Airlines started United Feeder Service (UFS), to operate British Aerospace BAe ATP aircraft for United Airlines. The aircraft, originally owned by Air Wisconsin, were transferred and subsequently owned by United. UFS operated routes to Chicago O'Hare (ORD) from close markets in the U.S. Upper Midwest. UFS was eliminated from the United Express carrier network in 1999 and disappeared.

When United declared for Chapter 11 reorganization in 2002, it pressured its regional partners for reduced fees. In 2004, ACA canceled its contract and reinvented itself as low-cost carrier Independence Air. The next year, Air Wisconsin unsuccessfully bid to retain its flying contract, though it did retain some ground-handling United Express operations. To compensate, United initiated new service agreements with Colgan Air, Trans States subsidiary GoJet Airlines, and Republic Airways Holdings subsidiaries Chautauqua Airlines and Shuttle America. Trans States Airlines. Mesa Airlines was also reinstated into the United Express system.

In 2005, United announced that service levels on major United Express routes would be upgraded to a new product called explus. Routes with explus service offer First Class seats and meal service on larger, 70-seat Embraer 170s and 66-seat Bombardier CRJ700s. Expanding the traditional regional partner role, United started to use the airplanes configured with explus amenities instead of, or alongside with, mainline jets on routes linking large cities, such as Chicago to Houston.

United announced a new Express focus city at San Antonio International Airport in 2006, but the experiment was short-lived. Trans States was the carrier operating the San Antonio operation.

United decided to cancel Dash 8 and CRJ200 service with Mesa Airlines in November 2009. On November 16, 2009, it was announced that ExpressJet would begin operating Embraer ERJ 145s beginning in the spring of 2010. Mesa Airlines continued service using CRJ700 regional jets and added the Embraer 175 in 2015.

Two United Express Bombardier CRJ200s painted in the 2010-2019 livery at Denver International Airport

All Continental Express and Continental Connection service officially merged into United Express in late 2010 including that of Cape Air which was operating as Continental Connection on behalf of Continental Micronesia in Guam. Silver Airways was also a Continental Connection carrier that converted to United Express using turbo prop aircraft. Silver operated throughout Florida as well as routes from Washington Dulles Airport however their affiliation as United Express ended in 2013.

On April 1, 2012, Pinnacle Airlines Corp. filed for bankruptcy and announced it would draw down its Colgan Air operation. In May, United reached a deal with Republic Airways Holdings for its subsidiary Republic Airways to fly the Q400 in Colgan's place. The eight-year capacity purchase agreement included all 28 aircraft previously operated by Colgan as well as four currently flown by Republic for Frontier Airlines.

In August 2015, United announced the start of a new subsidiary, United Ground Express, to provide ground operation service in select airports within its domestic network.

By September 2016, Republic Airways’ Q400s were phased out of service, replacing them with 50 more Embraer 175s.

On February 27, 2017, United Airlines announced the return of their partnership with Air Wisconsin as a United Express carrier. They would be flying a fleet of 65 Bombardier CRJ200s beginning second-half 2017.

In September 2017, the Q300 was phased out, and in January 2018, the Q200 was phased out. These were the final prop aircraft in the United Express system within the United States.

On April 16, 2018, United Airlines announced the end of its partnership with Cape Air. Services ended on May 31, 2018, which marked the end of United Express operations in Guam, along with the retirement of the last turboprop aircraft in the United Express fleet.

In March 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Trans States Airlines announced that it would be ceasing operations on April 1, 2020, ending its operations as United Express.

On July 30, 2020, it was announced that United Airlines had decided to end its contract with ExpressJet and transferred these operations to CommuteAir. ExpressJet continued its operations until September 30, 2020, and CommuteAir became the sole operator of the United Express Embraer ERJ 145 fleet.

In August 2022, Air Wisconsin announced that it would again be leaving the United Express brand and transferring exclusively to American Eagle. The transition started in March 2023.

A United Express Embraer 175 painted in the current livery at Toronto Pearson International Airport

As of 2023, five airlines remain as United Express feeder carriers: CommuteAir, GoJet, Mesa Airlines, Republic Airways, and SkyWest Airlines. Most of these carriers now have routes spanning the entire United States with regional jets. SkyWest serves a number of small cities that are subsidized by the federally funded Essential Air Service program as well as other local and state governments.

Destinations

Bus service

United Express bus service connects Beaumont/Port Arthur to George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH). This service began after Colgan Air-operated Saab 340 turboprop flights ended on July 1, 2012, and this bus service continues as of 2018 with several trips a day.

United Express also has a bus service from Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE) to Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR). Continental Airlines, which later merged into United in 2010, previously operated flights from Allentown to Newark but switched to a bus service in 1995 due to constant delays from air traffic control. It is 79 miles (127 km) long. As of 1997 the service was eight times daily. By 2010 the bus was the only form of service offered by Continental after it cancelled its Allentown to Cleveland flights.

Fleet

United Express CRJ700 at Dulles International Airport in 2018

United Express ERJ 145 in 2010

As of April 2024, the combined United Express-branded fleet consists of the following regional jet aircraft:

United Express fleet

Airline	Aircraft	In fleet	Orders	Passengers				Notes
				F	Y+	Y	Total
CommuteAir	Embraer ERJ 145	57	—	—	6	44	50
GoJet Airlines	Bombardier CRJ550	61	—	10	20	20	50
Mesa Airlines	Embraer 175	31	—	12	32	26	70
		47	—	12	16	48	76
Republic Airways	Embraer 170	26	—	6	16	48	70	To be transferred to Envoy Air
	Embraer 175	46	—	12	16	48	76
SkyWest Airlines	Bombardier CRJ200	73	—	—	—	50	50
	Bombardier CRJ700	13	—	6	16	48	70	To be transferred to Delta Connection
	Embraer 175	30	34	12	32	26	70
		65	—		16	48	76
Total		449	34

Former fleet

Historical regional jet fleet

Aircraft	Total	Introduced	Retired	Notes
BAe 146-100	4	1988	2004	Operated by Air Wisconsin and Aspen Airways
BAe 146-200	19	1985	2006	Operated by Air Wisconsin and WestAir Commuter Airlines
BAe 146-300	5	1988	2006	Operated by Air Wisconsin
Bombardier CRJ100	4	2005	2008	Operated by Mesa Airlines
	2	2009	2016	Operated by SkyWest Airlines
	1	2019	2019	Operated by ExpressJet
Dornier 328	23	1998	2003	Operated by Air Wisconsin
Embraer ERJ 135	9	2010	2018	Former Continental Express, operated by ExpressJet

Retired Embraer 145 aircraft stored at Kingman Airport

Historical turboprop fleet

The United Express brand, through its various regional and commuter airline partners, operated a variety of twin turboprop aircraft over the years including the following types.

Aircraft	Total	Introduced	Retired	Notes
ATR 42	3	2010	2018	Operated by Cape Air in Guam only
BAe ATP	10	1993	2000	Operated by United Feeder Service
BAe Jetstream 41	41	1993	2004	Operated by Atlantic Coast Airlines
Beechcraft 1900D	45	1995	2013	Operated by Great Lakes Airlines and Silver Airways
Bombardier Dash 8-200	1	1996	1997	Operated by Mesa Airlines
	2	2003	2010
Bombardier Dash 8-300	7	1995	1996	Operated by Mesa Airlines
Bombardier Q200	2	1996	1997	Operated by Mesa Airlines
	7	2003	2010
	16	2010	2018	Former Continental Connection, operated by CommutAir
Bombardier Q300	5	2011	2017	Operated by CommutAir
Bombardier Q400	33	2010	2016	Operated by Colgan Air and Republic Airways
de Havilland Canada Dash 8-100	5	1993	1995	Operated by Atlantic Coast Airlines
de Havilland Canada Dash 8-300	2	1989	1990	Operated by Presidential Airways
Dornier 328	21	1998	2003	Operated by Air Wisconsin
Embraer EMB 120	103	1990	2015	Operated by Great Lakes Airlines, SkyWest Airlines, WestAir Commuter Airlines
Saab 340	32	2004	2012	Operated by Colgan Air and Shuttle America

Former United Express Fokker F27 operated by Air Wisconsin

Accidents and incidents

• On February 2, 1988, United Express Flight 3749 from Denver to Durango, CO, operated by Aspen Airways using a Convair 580 aircraft, drifted off a snow-packed runway at night while landing at Durango-La Plata County Airport and crashed into a snowbank. No injuries were reported among the 38 passengers and three crew members on board.
• On December 26, 1989, United Express Flight 2415 operated by North Pacific Airlines, a BAe Jetstream 31 crashed on approach to Tri-Cities Airport near Pasco, Washington. The four passengers and two crew members on board were killed. The crew executed an excessively steep and unstabilized instrument landing system (ILS) approach. That approach, along with improper air traffic control commands and aircraft icing, caused the aircraft to stall and crash short of the runway.
• On January 7, 1994, United Express Flight 6291 operated by Atlantic Coast Airlines, a BAe Jetstream 41 crashed on approach to Port Columbus International Airport. Two passengers and three crew members were killed, while three passengers (a Taiwanese family) survived the accident. The NTSB report concluded the aircraft was never properly stabilized for the approach to runway 28L. The aircraft slowed to a stall, which was not recognized by the flight crew in a timely manner. The subsequent stall recovery was performed contrary to the Airplane Flight Manual procedure, which resulted in the aircraft impacting the ground less than 2 miles from the runway. Furthermore, after investigating the backgrounds of the cockpit crew, the NTSB concluded that Atlantic Coast shouldn't have paired an inexperienced first officer with a captain who had a history of failed check rides.
• On November 19, 1996, United Express Flight 5925 operated by Great Lakes Airlines, a Beechcraft 1900C collided with a King Air during landing at Quincy Regional Airport. The ten passengers and two crew members on board were killed. The pilots of the King Air were blamed for failing to effectively monitor both the common frequency and to scan for traffic.
• On April 9, 2017, passenger Dr. David Dao was dragged off of United Express Flight 3411 by law enforcement. He had been selected to be deplaned to make room for deadheading crew, but had refused to give up his seat, stating that he needed to see patients the following day. He suffered a concussion, lost teeth, and a broken nose. The airline later faced criticism and backlash for how the incident was handled.
• On March 4, 2019, United Express Flight 4933 operated by CommuteAir, a Embraer ERJ 145, landed in a snow-covered grassy area to the right of the runway at Presque Isle International Airport and was severely damaged; two passengers and the first officer suffered minor injuries. The accident was attributed to an inadequately reported ILS misalignment combined with "confirmation bias" and fatigue that led the first officer to continue the approach despite being unable to see the runway due to blowing snow.

External links

• United's official United Express page
• United's official United Express Fleet page