Chicago Express is poised to decide on its fleet expansion strategy as the US regional airline moves to bolster its position at Chicago Midway Airport.
The wholly owned subsidiary of American Trans Air's (ATA) parent AmTran Holdings uses its fleet of nine leased British Aerospace Jetstream 31s on feeder services for ATA from Midway and for point-to-point services from the Chicago airport.
According to ATA treasurer and director aircraft programmes Charlie Cleaver, Chicago Express is experiencing "extremely high" load factors across its network and is in urgent need of a larger aircraft. "We are in the final analysis of used 30-seaters, including the BAe Jetstream 41, Bombardier Dash 8-100, Embraer [EMB-120] Brasilia and Saab 340, and there are plenty of aircraft available," says Cleaver.
The airline is studying offers for a "one-for-one replacement" for the J31s, says Cleaver, who adds that the decision should be made by the end of June.
"We hope to begin rolling over to the new aircraft by the end of the year, but we will have to co-ordinate the return of the J31s to lessors," he says.
Source: Flight International
