note
Airline was founded by Joel and Gloria Hall in Jamestown, NY. Chautauqua began operations August 1, 1974 as an Allegheny Commuter operating Beech 99s from a Jamestown, NY base. Shorts SD3-30s were acquired in 1979 as more USAir routes were assumed. In 1984 it acquired the first of many Metro IIIs; two years later the airline was sold to Guarantee Security Life Insurance Co. [Guarantee Security went into receivership in 1991, which resulted in the airline being owned by the State of Florida for a period.] In a revised code-sharing agreement with US Airways, the airline moved its headquarters and base of operations to Indianapolis in 1995. The Jetstream 31 fleet of Jetstream International Airlines was acquired to replace the Metros. In 1998 Wexford Capital LLC purchased the airline, and the following year began acquiring a fleet of ERJ-145s. The first would enter service with US Airways Express in June 1999. Chautauqua began operating as a TWA Express carrier in April 2000, operating both SF340s and ERJs from the St. Louis hub. In August 2001 it began operating a small fleet of ERJs as America West Express from the Columbus hub (until its demise in 2003). With American's acquisition of TWA, Chautauqua continued to operate as American Connection from St. Louis and Chicago, using ERJ-140s which replaced the ERJ-145s and SF340s used for TWA. Chautauqua also began Delta Connection service with ERJ-135s and ERJ-145s in November 2002. In 2004 holding company Republic Airways Holdings was created with Wexford Capital as its major shareholder. Along with Chautauqua, the new holding company would acquire Shuttle America and launch a Republic Airlines subsidiary. Also in 2004 Chautauqua became regional airline of the year (ATW and Regional Airline World). In July 2004 it began operating as a United Express carrier with ERJ-145s, and briefly operated ERJ 170s, originally intended for Republic, until Shuttle America took the airplanes in 2005. Shuttle America also took the Chautauqua SAAB 340s operating for US Airways Express, which would make Chautauqua all jet. In April 2007, the airline began operating as a Continental Connection carrier with a fleet of CRJ 200s based in Houston, and eventually a fleet of ERJ 145s based in Cleveland. For operational reasons, the CRJ operation only lasted until February 2010. With Republic's acquisition of Frontier Airlines in 2009, Chautauqua operated a handful of ERJ-135s and ERJ-145s under the Frontier brand. This ended with Frontier's sale in 2013. Due to waning interest in smaller regional jet aircraft, many have been removed from service. The US Airways flying ended July 2013. When United closed its Cleveland hub in 2014, Chautauqua ended its flying for United on March 31. American also was moving into larger regional jets, and it ended its relationship with Chautauqua on August 19,2014. This left a 40+ ERJ 145 fleet operating for Delta Connection. In a effort to streamline operations, parent Republic Airways merged Chautauqua into Shuttle America on January 1, 2015
founded - demised (age)
May 3 1973 - December 31 2014 (41)
headquarters
, Indianapolis, IN
web
base airports
related operators
current /stored fleet (0)
