Freedom Airlines
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Freedom Airlines | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
||
| IATA F8 |
ICAO FRL |
Callsign FREEDOM AIR |
| Founded | 2002 | |
| Hubs | John F. Kennedy International Airport | |
| Fleet size | 40 | |
| Destinations | 22 | |
| Parent company | Mesa Air Group, Inc. | |
| Headquarters | Irving, Texas, USA | |
| Key people | Ryan Gumm (COO) | |
| Website: http://www.mesa-air.com | ||
Freedom Airlines, Inc. is an American FAA Part 121 certificated air carrier operating under air carrier certificate number FDKA087K[1] issued on April 1, 2002. The Nevada Corporation[2] is headquartered in Irving, Texas and is a subsidiary of Mesa Air Group. It operates flights as Delta Connection for Delta Air Lines serving Delta's hub at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City using CRJ900 and EMB 145 aircraft. As of June 2008, 7 Next Generation CRJ900's are currently in operation.
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[edit] History
The airline was established in March 2002 and started operations in October 2002. It was the launch customer for the Bombardier CRJ-900. The airline was started so that Mesa Air Group could fulfill its contractual obligations to operate the CRJ-900 as America West Express for America West Airlines. Establishing Freedom was necessary as Mesa Airlines was also operating as US Airways Express under a code share agreement for US Airways. US Airways' collective bargaining agreement with the Air Line Pilots Association prohibited contract carrier code share arrangements with regional jet carriers, if that carrier operated aircraft with more than 70 seats. Mesa Airlines, therefore, could not operate as US Airways Express and operate the CRJ-900.
Initially Freedom operated the Bombardier CRJ-700 and CRJ-900 on behalf of America West Airlines. Once US Airways' pilot scope limitation was relaxed, Mesa transferred the operation of all of Freedom's regional jets to Mesa Airlines. Once this transfer was complete Freedom placed a few Beech 1900D turboprops on its certificate and operated these as America West Express under a pro rate code share agreement with America West. In October 2005, Freedom Airlines began operations as Delta Connection.
On April 7, 2008, Mesa Air Group, the parent company of Freedom Airlines, entered litigation about contractual obligations with Delta Airlines.[3] Delta attempted to terminate the ERJ-145 contract due to supposed failures to meet completion in 3 of the last 6 months. No matter the ultimate resolution of the issue, the airline will continue to operate the CRJ-900 for Delta Airlines as Delta Connection.
On May 29, 2008, a federal judge blocked Delta from terminating Freedom's regional flying contract which, according to parent company Mesa Air Group would have forced it to file for bankruptcy protection by July 20 and cut 700 jobs or 14 percent of its work force. [4]
[edit] Destinations
As of 2008, all Freedom Airlines flights are affiliated with Delta Connection.
- Massachusetts
- Nantucket (Nantucket Memorial Airport) (seasonal)
- Tennessee
- Knoxville (McGhee Tyson Airport)
- Tri-Cities (Johnson City/Kingsport/Bristol in Tennessee and Virginia) (Tri-Cities Regional Airport)
[edit] Airline operations
Freedom Airlines operates as:
- Delta Connection using Embraer ERJ-145 and Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft under a revenue-guarantee codesharing agreement. Its hub is located at New York, New York.
[edit] Crew Bases
- New York, NY (JFK)
[edit] Fleet
As of January 25, 2008[citation needed]
[edit] Current Fleet
| Type | Number | Seats | Orders/ Options |
| Embraer ERJ-145 | 34 | 50 | 0/64 |
| Bombardier CRJ-900 | 7 (7 Orders) |
76 | 14/0 |
[edit] Retired fleet
| Aircraft | Year Retired | Replacement | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dash 8-100 | 2007 | Bombardier CRJ-900 | Acquired used in 2006 for Delta Connection flights at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport.
Phased out in 2007 to be replaced by CRJ-900's. |
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ Federal Aviation Administration - Airline Certificate Information - Detail View
- ^ Form 10-K (2006). Retrieved on 2007-09-05.
- ^ Delta, Mesa in connection flight clash, Business Courier of Cincinnati, April 2, 2008
- ^ Judge blocks Delta's termination of Mesa contract
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