ExpressJet Airlines (Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson) is planning to terminate all of its flight operations on September 30, 2020, given the already announced end of its United Airlines (UA, Chicago O'Hare) capacity purchase agreement and a lack of federal support beyond the end of September, PaxEx.aero has reported, citing an internal memo to staff.
"Due to the uncertainty of airline passenger travel as a result of the continuing pandemic, all ExpressJet flying for United Airlines will end on September 30, 2020. In addition, with the termination of the CARES Act payroll support funding at that time, ExpressJet also will terminate or furlough most of its workforce on September 30, 2020, other than limited staff needed in connection with the wind-down of operations and the review of future business opportunities," the airline said in a statement.
In late July, United announced that it would end its CPA with ExpressJet in order to consolidate all of its E145 regional operations at CommutAir (Cleveland Hopkins). Given that ExpressJet operates exclusively for United Airlines, the decision practically sealed the airline's fate. At that time, United said that the wind-down of ExpressJet's flying will take "a number of months".
ExpressJet operates a total of 107 E145s, including forty-nine EMB-145LRs and fifty-eight EMB-145XRs, all of which are owned by United Airlines. The capacity provider itself only owns four stored CRJ200ERs, the ch-aviation fleets ownership module shows.
United Airlines is a minority shareholder in ExpressJet. The airline is owned by ManaAir, a KAir Enterprises/United Airlines joint venture.
ExpressJet will remain operational through September 30, 2020. As a recipient of USD109.9 million in federal Payroll Support Program (PSP) funds, it is prohibited from involuntary layoffs through this deadline.
