ExpressJet Airlines (Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson) intends to restart as a passenger charter carrier initially with one B777-200ER after being saved from liquidation by new owner Polaris 8 LLC, owned by siblings Vandi and Sami Cooyar, who also own Nevada-based lessor and charter operator Logistic Air (Reno/Tahoe) and firefighting specialist Global SuperTanker Services (GST, Colorado Springs).
Formerly in service with JAL - Japan Airlines as JA711J, B777-246ER N771LG (msn 33396) is owned by Logistic and will be leased to ExpressJet, according to a filing to the US Department of Transportation. It is currently stored at Victorville, according to ch-aviation fleets data.
The former regional capacity provider for United Airlines (UA, Chicago O'Hare) suspended operations under the United Express brand on September 30, 2020, but resumed flights under its own independent aha! (United States of America) (Reno/Tahoe) brand. However, due to adverse market conditions in the wake of Covid-19, the carrier filed for US Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and suspended operations for a second time on August 23, 2022.
On December 23, 2022, the US Bankruptcy Court in New York approved ExpressJet's reorganisation plan, whereafter the airline was bought by Polaris 8, a Delaware company owned by the Cooyar siblings. On February 1, 2023, the plan took effect, and ExpressJet exited bankruptcy protection.
Under its new ownership, ExpressJet intends to resume operations and has asked the DOT to extend for 90 days or until November 21, 2023, a current waiver of its dormant Part 121 certificate of public convenience and necessity for scheduled interstate air transport of persons, property and mail.
According to its DOT filing, ExpressJet is now "well-capitalised and can fully satisfy the financial fitness test" applied by the Department. The carrier claims access to working capital of USD1.9 million, sufficient to cover its pre-operating expenses and expected operating costs, funded by the new owners in cash.
