Washington Dulles-based Atlantic Coast Airlines (ACA) formally relaunched on 16 June as Independence Air, a United Express feeder recast to offer high-frequency, low-cost service to a variety of markets.
The carrier's plans call for more than 300 flights daily by August, transforming Dulles into the USA's largest low-cost service hub, says chairman and chief executive Kerry Skeen. In a festive roll-out, a water cannon baptised a Bombardier CRJ200 operating a flight to Chicago. Services to Atlanta, Boston, New York Newark and Raleigh/ Durham, North Carolina also began.
Skeen has an aggressive growth plan. Starting with the former ACA's fleet of 87 CRJ200s and a $400 million-plus cash reserve, the airline will from September introduce the first of 27 Airbus A319/A320s it has on order, says Skeen.
STEPHEN TRIMBLE / WASHINGTON DC
Source: Flight International
