Freedom Airlines

Freedom Airlines, Inc. was a Nevada corporation and FAA Part 121-certified regional airline owned by Mesa Air Group. Its air carrier certificate, number FDKA087K, was issued on April 1, 2002. The airline was established in March 2002 and began flying in October of that year. It was created primarily to allow Mesa Air Group to operate larger regional jets for America West Airlines while avoiding a scope restriction in the collective bargaining agreement governing Mesa Airlines' operations for US Airways Express. Freedom initially operated Bombardier CRJ-700 and CRJ-900 aircraft as America West Express. It became the launch customer for the CRJ-900, giving the small subsidiary an important role in the introduction of the type to U.S. regional airline service. The corporate structure enabled Mesa to separate the larger-jet operation from Mesa Airlines, whose US Airways Express flying was subject to pilot-contract limitations concerning code-share operations involving aircraft with more than 70 seats. After those restrictions were relaxed, Mesa transferred Freedom's regional-jet operation back to Mesa Airlines. Freedom retained its certificate by placing a Beech 1900D on it, although that aircraft did not operate scheduled Freedom flights and was used as a spare for other Mesa-related operations. In October 2005, Freedom began operating for Delta Air Lines under the Delta Connection brand. Its principal Delta operation involved Embraer ERJ-145 regional jets serving Delta's Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport hub. The carrier also operated Bombardier CRJ-900 aircraft for Delta Connection, but that contract was later canceled and the aircraft were reassigned to other regional carriers, including Mesaba Airlines, Atlantic Southeast Airlines, and Pinnacle Airlines. Freedom's base moved from New York City to Cincinnati in July 2009. The airline became involved in a prolonged contractual dispute with Delta. In April 2008, Delta sought to terminate Freedom's ERJ-145 agreement, alleging that the carrier had failed to meet completion requirements in three of the preceding six months. A federal judge temporarily blocked the termination in May 2008. Mesa argued that ending the agreement would threaten approximately 700 jobs and could force the parent company to seek bankruptcy protection. The ERJ-145 fleet was subsequently reduced to 22 active aircraft and five spares. Delta's separate effort to end the CRJ-900 contract succeeded in 2008. In the continuing dispute over the ERJ-145 flying, a federal judge ruled against Mesa Air Group in May 2010. Mesa stated that the decision could leave 22 Freedom aircraft without work and result in approximately 500 layoffs at the subsidiary. Freedom Airlines operated its final flight on August 31, 2010, after which the airline ceased operations. It is distinct from an unrelated 1980s carrier also known as Freedom Airlines, which was operated by Commuter Airlines with Convair 580 and Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner turboprops.

Freedom Airlines was formed by Mesa Air Group in March 2002 and began operations in October 2002. The subsidiary's creation addressed a structural problem in Mesa's airline portfolio. Mesa Airlines was operating as US Airways Express under a code-share arrangement with US Airways, whose pilot agreement with the Air Line Pilots Association restricted that operation from using aircraft with more than 70 seats in certain regional-airline code-share arrangements. By placing the larger regional jets in a separate subsidiary, Mesa could pursue flying for America West Airlines while maintaining its existing US Airways Express operation. Freedom became the launch customer for the Bombardier CRJ-900 and initially flew CRJ-700 and CRJ-900 aircraft as America West Express. Once the relevant pilot-scope limitation was relaxed, Mesa moved Freedom's regional-jet operation back to Mesa Airlines. Freedom then retained its operating certificate with a Beech 1900D turboprop. The aircraft did not conduct scheduled Freedom service during this period, but served as a spare for other Mesa-related operations, including America West Express flying by Air Midwest and Dash 8 operations by Mesa Airlines. In October 2005, Freedom entered a new phase by flying for Delta Air Lines as a Delta Connection carrier. Its Delta operation centered on Embraer ERJ-145 aircraft and served Delta's hub at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport in Hebron, Kentucky. Freedom also operated CRJ-900 aircraft for Delta Connection. The airline's base was moved from New York City to Cincinnati in July 2009. Delta later canceled the CRJ-900 agreement, and the seven affected aircraft were returned to Delta before being operated by other regional carriers, including Pinnacle Airlines, Mesaba Airlines, and Atlantic Southeast Airlines. The ERJ-145 agreement produced a separate and more consequential legal dispute. On April 7, 2008, Mesa Air Group became involved in litigation after Delta attempted to terminate the contract. Delta argued that Freedom had failed to meet completion standards in three of the previous six months. On May 29, 2008, a federal judge blocked the termination at that stage of the proceedings. Mesa stated that losing the contract could force it into bankruptcy protection by July 20 and eliminate roughly 700 jobs, representing about 14 percent of its workforce at the time. Freedom's ERJ-145 fleet was subsequently described as 22 operating aircraft plus five spares. Delta's cancellation of the CRJ-900 agreement in August 2008 was successful, unlike the initial attempt involving the ERJ-145 operation. The seven CRJ-900s were returned to Delta without further financial obligation to Mesa, and the aircraft were redistributed among other regional operators. The dispute over the ERJ-145 operation continued for several years. In May 2010, a federal judge ruled against Mesa Air Group concerning Delta's right to cancel the regional flying contract. Mesa said that the ruling could leave 22 regional jets without work and require approximately 500 layoffs at Freedom Airlines. Freedom Airlines ceased flying on August 31, 2010. The company therefore had a relatively short operating life, shaped less by independent consumer branding than by its role as a capacity provider for major airline partners. It should not be confused with an unrelated airline that used the same name during the 1980s. That earlier operation, conducted by Commuter Airlines, provided scheduled service in parts of the eastern United States using Convair 580 and Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner turboprop aircraft.

• 2010

  Scheduled operations end

  [1]Freedom Airlinesen.wikipedia.org

  Freedom Airlines operated its final flight on August 31, 2010.

• 2009

  Operating base moves to Cincinnati

  [1]Freedom Airlinesen.wikipedia.org

  Freedom moved its base from New York City to Cincinnati in July 2009 to support its Delta Connection operation.

• 2008

  Delta CRJ-900 contract is canceled

  [1]Freedom Airlinesen.wikipedia.org

  Delta ended Freedom's CRJ-900 contract, and the seven aircraft were returned and reassigned to other regional carriers.

• 2005

  Begins Delta Connection operations

  [1]Freedom Airlinesen.wikipedia.org

  Freedom began operating scheduled regional flights for Delta Air Lines under the Delta Connection brand.

• 2002

  Freedom Airlines is established

  [1]Freedom Airlinesen.wikipedia.org

  Mesa Air Group established Freedom Airlines in March 2002, and the carrier began operations in October.

• 2002

  Launch customer for the CRJ-900

  [1]Freedom Airlinesen.wikipedia.org

  Freedom became the launch customer for Bombardier's CRJ-900 regional jet and initially operated CRJ-700 and CRJ-900 aircraft as America West Express.

A regional airline subsidiary designed to provide contract and code-share flying for major U.S. airlines, using regional jets and operating under partner brands rather than marketing a large independent network.

• Regional passenger aviation · 2005

  Delta Connection ERJ-145 service

  Freedom operated Embraer ERJ-145 regional jet flights for Delta Air Lines under the Delta Connection brand. The service formed the carrier's principal operation during its later years and was associated with Delta's Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport hub. The fleet was reported as 22 operating aircraft and five spares during the contract dispute period.

• Regional passenger aviation · 2005

  Delta Connection CRJ-900 service

  Freedom operated Bombardier CRJ-900 aircraft for Delta Connection. The operation followed the airline's earlier role as a CRJ-900 launch customer, but Delta later canceled the contract. Seven aircraft were returned to Delta and subsequently placed with other regional operators.

• Regional passenger aviation · 2002

  America West Express CRJ service

  Freedom's original scheduled operation used Bombardier CRJ-700 and CRJ-900 aircraft under the America West Express brand. The subsidiary was created specifically to enable Mesa Air Group to perform this larger-regional-jet flying while Mesa Airlines continued its US Airways Express commitments.

• 2010

  Cease operationsStrategy

  Background

  A federal ruling went against Mesa Air Group in its long-running dispute with Delta over the regional flying contract, threatening the employment and utilization of Freedom's remaining aircraft.

  Action taken

  Freedom Airlines ended scheduled flying, operating its final flight on August 31, 2010.

  Aftermath

  The subsidiary became defunct, and its remaining regional aircraft no longer operated under the Freedom Airlines certificate.

  Source

• 2008

  End CRJ-900 operation for DeltaStrategy

  Background

  Delta sought to reduce or restructure regional capacity and disputed aspects of Freedom's performance under its regional contracts.

  Action taken

  Delta canceled Freedom's CRJ-900 contract and took back seven aircraft.

  Aftermath

  The aircraft were later operated by Pinnacle Airlines, Mesaba Airlines, and Atlantic Southeast Airlines.

  Source

• 2005

  Move into Delta Connection flyingStrategy

  Background

  Following the transfer of its original regional-jet operation to Mesa Airlines, Freedom needed a continuing role within Mesa Air Group's contract-carrier structure.

  Action taken

  Freedom began operating scheduled flights for Delta Air Lines under the Delta Connection brand, using regional jet aircraft.

  Aftermath

  The Delta relationship became Freedom's main operating platform until the contract dispute and subsequent shutdown.

  Source

• 2002

  Create a separate larger-jet subsidiaryStrategy

  Background

  Mesa Air Group needed to operate regional aircraft with more than 70 seats for America West while its Mesa Airlines unit was subject to pilot-scope restrictions related to US Airways Express flying.

  Action taken

  Mesa established Freedom Airlines as a separate certificated carrier to operate the larger regional jets under the America West Express brand.

  Aftermath

  Freedom became the launch customer for the CRJ-900. After the scope restriction was relaxed, the regional-jet operation was transferred back to Mesa Airlines.

  Source

1. 1Freedom Airlinesen.wikipedia.org