Express Jet Airlines

Express Jet Airlines

ExpressJet Airlines, Inc. is an American airline based in College Park, Georgia, USA in Greater Atlanta. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of SkyWest, Inc., parent company of the air carrier SkyWest Airlines. Before the acquisition from SkyWest it was an independent airline, and previously, a subsidiary of Continental Airlines. ExpressJet Airlines, Inc., originally Continental Express, Inc., was a Delaware corporation.

Although an autonomous business entity since its divestiture from Continental Airlines, Inc. in 2002, it continued to operate as Continental Express for Continental Airlines from hubs at George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Houston, Newark Liberty International Airport, Newark, New Jersey and Hopkins International Airport, Cleveland, Ohio. Its training center is on the grounds of George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston.

In August 2010, SkyWest Airlines announced that it had entered into a definitive merger agreement with ExpressJet Holdings, whereby SkyWest's wholly owned subsidiary, Atlantic Southeast Airlines, would purchase ExpressJet for $6.75 per share. Atlantic Southeast Airlines and ExpressJet became the world's largest regional airline on November 12, 2010 once the purchase was final. The self-proclaimed "Super Regional" airline will be based in Atlanta.

On November 22, 2011, both ExpressJet and Atlantic Southeast Airlines achieved a single operating certificate that will allow them to operate as one carrier. Effective December 31, 2011, all flights began operating under the name ExpressJet making it the largest regional airline in the world with more than 400 aircraft. ExpressJet currently operates as Delta Connection and United Express.