Air Wisconsin (ZW, Appleton Outgamie County Regional) will terminate its existing capacity purchase agreement (CPA) with American Airlines (AA, Dallas/Fort Worth) by early April 2025 to focus on Essential Air Service (EAS) routes and expanding its charter operations.

The regional airline recently submitted bids to the US Department of Transportation (DOT) for four EAS contracts: Burlington, IA, Quincy Regional, Pierre, and Watertown, SD, all from its base in Chicago O'Hare, and the last two also possibly from Denver International. The airline wants to serve them with its CRJ200 fleet, composed of sixty-three 50-seaters, all owned and managed by the company. None of the contracts have been awarded yet and all four are contested by other regional carriers.

To be able to focus on the federally subsidised EAS routes, Air Wisconsin is concluding a CPA with American Airlines in April 2025. The companies launched their CPA in 2022 after Air Wisconsin ended a capacity purchase agreement with United Airlines. It will transition its partnership with the mainline carrier to a codeshare and interline agreement.

In a statement to ch-aviation, American Airlines confirmed that it will begin reducing its schedule operated by Air Wisconsin starting in March, with the final flights taking place on April 3.

The ch-aviation schedules module shows Air Wisconsin operates flights on behalf of American Airlines to 33 destinations from Chicago O’Hare. Once the CPA ends, American will not end service to any of these served cities, and instead, it expects to increase flights from Chicago O'Hare on other regional carriers, replacing Air Wisconsin's operations.

Air Wisconsin is also expanding its charter services under its Part 135 certificate, which limits flights to 30 seats. This move aims to meet growing demand, particularly from National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) sports teams. ch-aviation has reached out to the carrier for comment on its fleet plans going forward.

The regional carrier does not operate any other types than the CRJ200s.