Airline will still serve as Continental Express operator

Houston-based ExpressJet Airlines recently announced it had mutually agreed with Delta to terminate its Delta Connection agreement effective September 1 – and now the company says it will also discontinue flying under its own name as of September 2. In 2007, ExpressJet had built up a service network extending to 25 cities, mainly in the south and west, where it flew regional jets under its own ExpressJet Airlines brand. The airline often provides non-stop service where no one else does, mainly in secondary markets like Omaha-Tucson, Tulsa-San Antonio and Ontario (Calif.)-Colorado Springs. The 39 aircraft currently used in the ExpressJet Airlines operation will be returned to their leasing company, officials said. The company said persons holding tickets for travel on ExpressJet after September 2 should call 888-958-9538 for a refund. As for the Delta Connection business ending September 1, ExpressJet flies 23 Embraer regional jets under the Delta Connection banner, mostly out of Los Angeles and Salt Lake City. Delta said it will reassign some of those operations, including all current ExpressJet services at Salt Lake City, to another regional partner. ExpressJet CEO Jim Ream said his carrier has been losing money on the Delta operations.

ExpressJet will continue to serve as a Continental Express partner carrier, operating a fleet of 205 planes to 150 destinations. The company also has its own charter operation, using a dedicated fleet of 30 planes that operates under the name ExpressJet Corporate Aviation.