note
Formed as Vercoa Air Service in 1956, this company began Allegheny Commuter services linking Danville, IL with Chicago in 1968.The operation soon linked smaller communities in Indiana with Chicago and Indianapolis. In 1974, the airline name was changed to Britt Airlines. In 1978 an independent operation, Britt Airways, was launched from a base in Danville, IIllinois, which provided service from Illinois and Indiana communities to Chicago. By this time the aircraft of choice was the Beech 99. Britt Airlines ended Allegheny Commuter operations in 1981, and the two airlines were merged at its home base of Terre Haute. The Britt Chicago operation grew with Metroliners, F-27s, and FH-227s. Two BAC 1-11s were eventually added for scheduled and charter work. On November 1, 1985, the airline began Piedmont Commuter flights from the Dayton hub. This only lasted until September 1, 1986, since during the same year, the airline was acquired by PEOPLExpress. With Texas Air's acquisition of PEOPLExpress, Britt became a Continental Express carrier on February 1, 1987 for its Chicago services, and an Eastern Express carrier on the same day, serving the Philadelphia hub. Britt moved south in September, feeding Continental at its Houston hub. The Philadelphia Eastern Express operation became a Cleveland Continental Express operation by the end of 1987. Its Chicago slots were sold to American Eagle in 1989. On September 1, 1990, Britt Airways assumed the operations of Rocky Mountain Airways and Bar Harbor Airlines, however the latter two airlines maintained their own air carrier certificates. In July 1991, the Britt and Rocky Mountain air carrier certificates were combined into one. Britt and Rocky Mountain were eventually merged into a newly created (post bankruptcy) subsidiary of Continental Airlines, Continental Express Inc., and the Britt name finally disappeared on April 26, 1993.
founded - demised (age)
July 1956 - April 26 1993 (37)
headquarters
, Terre Haute, IN
web
base airports
related operators
current /stored fleet (0)
