ExpressJet Airlines

ExpressJet (formerly Continental Express) was founded in 1986 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Continental Airlines. It acquired the ExpressJet Holdings name in 1996 after its first ERJ 145 arrived. In 2002, ExpressJet became an independent carrier after management acquired the company from Continental. It continued its Continental Express operations but launched an independent, point-to-point operation in 2007. Prior to that, in 2006, it launched a charter business using aircraft removed from the Continental Express flying. ExpressJet Holdings, Inc became a wholly-owned subsidiary of SkyWest, Inc in Nov-2010. It had service agreements to fly under the brands Continental Express and United Express on behalf of Continental Airlines and United Airlines, respectively. On 31-Dec-2011 ExpressJet and Atlantic Southeast Airlines achieved a single operating certificate. All flights of the merged airline operate under the 'ExpressJet Airlines' brand.

ManaAir (a JV between United Airlines & KAir Enterprises) and SkyWest Inc entered a USD70 million definitive agreement for ManaAir to acquire ExpressJet Airlines. ExpressJet was successfully acquired by ManaAir on 22-Jan-2019.

ExpressJet ceased operations on 30-Sep-2020. The decision was made by United Airlines and ExpressJet on behalf of United Express.

On 16-Apr-2021, ExpressJet Airlines submitted a notice to the US Department of Transportation (DoT) of its intent to resume scheduled operations as an independent carrier. On 30-Jul-2021, US DoT issued a final fitness order enabling ExpressJet Airlines to restart commercial operations. ExpressJet Airlines successfully demonstrated a flight under Part 121 for the US FAA on 24-Aug-2021.

ExpressJet Airlines filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and ceased all flight operations on 23-Aug-2022.