American Airlines’ absorption of TWA took a major step forward when the Dallas-based American signed a pair of new code-share agreements with TWExpress partners Trans States and Chautauqua Airlines. As part of the multi-year agreements, Indianapolis-based Chautauqua and St. Louis-based Trans States will replace all the 50-seat Embraer ERJ-145s serving their TWA code-share routes with 44-seat Embraer ERJ-140s recently ordered from the Brazilian manufacturer during June’s Paris Air Show.
Chautauqua Airlines’ contract involved a conversion of options on 28 ERJ-140/145s, 15 of which it will fly for American Airlines from St. Louis. The airline has also added 25 new options for the Embraer RJs. The contract brings the total number of Embraer jets held on order and option by Chautauqua Airlines to 73 and 42, respectively. The Trans States contract included a new firm order for 10 ERJ-140s and options for another 25, bringing that airline’s firm order total to 22 and option tally to 25.
