Metro Airlines

Metro Airlines was an American commuter and regional airline founded in 1969 as Houston Metro Airlines. It began with short-distance shuttle flights connecting the Houston area, including a distinctive service between its privately developed Clear Lake City STOLport near NASA's Johnson Space Center and Houston Intercontinental Airport. The airline was built around small turboprop aircraft, initially de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otters, which were well suited to short runways and frequent regional service. During its early years, Metro expanded beyond its original Houston-area shuttle role. It added routes linking Houston Intercontinental with communities in southeast Texas, south Texas, and neighboring Louisiana, including Lafayette and Lake Charles. It also operated flights between Houston-area airports and, at various times, served markets such as Laredo, San Antonio, Beaumont/Port Arthur, and other regional destinations. The carrier experimented with a seven-minute Dallas Love Field–Dallas/Fort Worth shuttle in 1974, but the service was discontinued in 1975 after failing to become profitable. The introduction of Short 330 turboprops in the late 1970s marked a transition from a small commuter operator toward a larger regional airline. The aircraft provided additional capacity and required Metro to introduce flight attendants on applicable services. Metro also developed operations from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport through its Metroflight division. In 1982 it acquired Convair 580 aircraft from the former Frontier Airlines and used them to launch American Eagle service under a code-sharing and feeder relationship with American Airlines. Metroflight began operating under the American Eagle brand at Dallas/Fort Worth on November 1, 1984. Metro subsequently became an airline holding company and expanded through acquisitions, subsidiaries, and branded feeder agreements. Its affiliated operations included Metro Express, Eastern Metro Express, Aviation Associates, and Metro Air Northeast. These businesses operated or supported regional networks for American Airlines, Eastern Air Lines, and Trans World Airlines under brands such as American Eagle, Eastern Express, and TWExpress. Operations covered parts of Texas, the central and northeastern United States, Atlanta, and Caribbean destinations served from San Juan. The company's business model depended heavily on relationships with larger network airlines and on the economics of regional feeder flying. Metro ended its Houston Intercontinental service in 1985, while other affiliated operations continued under partner-airline brands. It acquired Chaparral Airlines in 1987 and Brockway Air in 1989, although some acquired operations were later merged, renamed, or discontinued. In 1991 Metro entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization. It ceased operations completely in May 1993, after which AMR Corporation acquired relevant assets and some Metroflight equipment and operations were absorbed into other American Eagle operators, including Simmons Airlines. The Clear Lake City STOLport that had defined the company's early identity was later abandoned and demolished for suburban development.

Metro Airlines originated in 1969 as Houston Metro Airlines, an operator created to provide rapid cross-town transportation in the Houston area. Its most characteristic early infrastructure was the Clear Lake City STOLport, a privately developed 2,500-foot short-takeoff-and-landing airfield near NASA's Johnson Space Center. Metro built the airfield, terminal, and maintenance facilities itself and used de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otters to connect Clear Lake City with Houston Intercontinental Airport. In early 1970, it also linked Houston Hobby Airport with Houston Intercontinental. The high-frequency shuttle pattern was central to the airline's initial identity; a 1970 timetable listed 24 weekday round trips between Clear Lake City and Houston Intercontinental and 14 between Hobby and Intercontinental. By the middle of the 1970s, Metro had expanded into a broader regional network. It connected Houston Intercontinental with communities in southeast and south Texas and later added service to Lafayette and Lake Charles, Louisiana. Larger Short 330 turboprops supplemented the Twin Otters on higher-demand routes. Metro also explored the Dallas market, inaugurating a very short Dallas Love Field–Dallas/Fort Worth service in 1974. The seven-minute flights were promoted as an inexpensive alternative to a taxi, but the experiment was discontinued in September 1975 because it was not profitable. The arrival of Short 330 aircraft in the late 1970s moved Metro toward the regional-airline model. The company operated from Dallas/Fort Worth through a Metroflight division and developed service to Texas, Oklahoma, and other nearby destinations. In 1982, Metro acquired fourteen Convair 580 aircraft from the former Frontier Airlines. These aircraft supported Metroflight's launch of American Eagle service in cooperation with American Airlines. On November 1, 1984, Metroflight began operating from Dallas/Fort Worth under the American Eagle brand, helping American build connecting traffic through its hub. Metro evolved from an individual certificated airline into a holding-company structure with several affiliated carriers and operating names. Metro Express provided American Eagle operations before being merged with Chaparral Airlines. Metro purchased Chaparral in 1987 and later integrated its aircraft into Metroflight's American Eagle operation. Metro Express II operated as Eastern Metro Express from Atlanta for Eastern Air Lines, using aircraft such as the BAe Jetstream 31 and Dash 8. Other affiliated activity included Aviation Associates, formerly Sunaire, which provided Eastern Express service in the Caribbean from San Juan, and Eastern Express operations from Houston and San Antonio. In 1989 Metro acquired Brockway Air and renamed it Metro Air Northeast; that carrier operated as TWExpress for Trans World Airlines until the operation ended in 1991. This expansion increased Metro's geographic reach but also exposed it to the financial and operational pressures of the deregulated regional-airline sector. Metro withdrew from Houston Intercontinental in 1985, while its partner-branded feeder operations continued in other markets. The company entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization in 1991 and ultimately ceased all operations in May 1993. AMR Corporation acquired relevant assets after the shutdown, and portions of the former Metroflight operation and fleet were later associated with other American Eagle operators, including Simmons Airlines. The original Clear Lake City STOLport was eventually abandoned and demolished, removing the physical site that had symbolized Metro's pioneering Houston shuttle operation.

• 1993

  Operations end

  [1]Metro Airlinesen.wikipedia.org

  Metro Airlines shuts down completely in May, with relevant assets subsequently acquired by AMR Corporation.

• 1991

  Chapter 11 reorganization begins

  [1]Metro Airlinesen.wikipedia.org

  Metro enters bankruptcy reorganization.

• 1989

  Brockway Air is acquired

  [1]Metro Airlinesen.wikipedia.org

  Metro acquires Brockway Air and renames it Metro Air Northeast for TWExpress operations.

• 1987

  Chaparral Airlines is acquired

  [1]Metro Airlinesen.wikipedia.org

  Metro purchases Chaparral and later integrates its aircraft into Metroflight's American Eagle operation.

• 1984

  Metroflight begins American Eagle service

  [1]Metro Airlinesen.wikipedia.org

  Metroflight starts American Eagle operations from Dallas/Fort Worth on November 1.

• 1982

  Metro acquires Convair 580 aircraft

  [1]Metro Airlinesen.wikipedia.org

  Metro purchases fourteen Convair 580s from the former Frontier Airlines for regional expansion and American Eagle flying.

• 1975

  Dallas shuttle is discontinued

  [1]Metro Airlinesen.wikipedia.org

  The Love Field–DFW experiment ends after proving economically unsuccessful.

• 1974

  Dallas Love Field–DFW shuttle launches

  [1]Metro Airlinesen.wikipedia.org

  Metro introduces a brief Twin Otter shuttle between Dallas Love Field and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.

• 1969

  Houston Metro Airlines is founded

  [1]Metro Airlinesen.wikipedia.org

  The airline is established to provide short-distance commuter flights in the Houston area.

• 1969

  Clear Lake City STOLport opens for Metro service

  [1]Metro Airlinesen.wikipedia.org

  Metro begins operating from its purpose-built short-takeoff-and-landing field near NASA's Johnson Space Center.

A regional and commuter airline specializing in frequent short-haul flights and contract or code-share feeder services for major network carriers.

• Scheduled passenger service · 1969

  Houston commuter shuttle

  Metro's original core offering was frequent short-haul transportation around Houston. Twin Otters connected the purpose-built Clear Lake City STOLport with Houston Intercontinental Airport, while additional service linked Houston Hobby with Intercontinental. The operation targeted business and local connecting traffic rather than long-distance travel.

• Scheduled passenger service · 1970

  Regional turboprop network

  Metro expanded its independent network to destinations in Texas and Louisiana, using DHC-6 Twin Otters on short-field routes and Short 330 aircraft on higher-demand sectors. Markets included communities connected with Houston Intercontinental, as well as selected city pairs such as Laredo–San Antonio.

• Airline feeder and code-share service · 1984

  American Eagle service

  Through Metroflight and related subsidiaries, Metro operated regional flights marketed under the American Eagle brand for American Airlines. The operation used Convair 580s, Twin Otters, and later additional regional aircraft to feed American's Dallas/Fort Worth network.

• Airline feeder and code-share service · 1980

  Eastern Express services

  Metro affiliates operated Eastern Express and Eastern Metro Express services for Eastern Air Lines. These included Atlanta-based feeder flights, Houston and San Antonio regional services, and Caribbean operations from San Juan using Twin Otters and other commuter aircraft.

• Airline feeder and code-share service · 1989

  TWExpress service

  After acquiring Brockway Air, Metro operated the renamed Metro Air Northeast as a TWExpress banner carrier for Trans World Airlines. The operation used commuter aircraft including Beech 1900 and Saab 340 models before ending in 1991.

• 1991

  Bankruptcy reorganizationStrategy

  Background

  Financial pressures affected Metro's holding-company structure and regional airline operations.

  Action taken

  Metro sought protection under Chapter 11.

  Aftermath

  The reorganization did not restore long-term viability; Metro ceased operations in May 1993 and relevant assets were acquired by AMR Corporation.

  Source

• 1987

  Acquisition and integration of Chaparral AirlinesM&A

  Background

  Metro sought to consolidate its American Eagle regional platform.

  Action taken

  Metro purchased Chaparral Airlines and later merged its aircraft into Metroflight operations.

  Aftermath

  Chaparral's separate operating identity was eventually folded into Metro's American Eagle activity.

  Source

• 1985

  Withdrawal from Houston IntercontinentalStrategy

  Background

  Metro was restructuring its network while increasingly emphasizing partner-branded regional operations.

  Action taken

  The airline announced that it would end service at Houston Intercontinental.

  Aftermath

  Royale Airlines assumed many routes formerly operated by Metro into Houston.

  Source

• 1982

  Expansion into larger regional aircraftProduct launch

  Background

  Metro needed greater capacity for regional growth and for planned feeder operations from Dallas/Fort Worth.

  Action taken

  It acquired fourteen Convair 580 aircraft from the former Frontier Airlines.

  Aftermath

  The aircraft enabled Metroflight to begin American Eagle service in cooperation with American Airlines.

  Source

• 1974

  Launch of the Dallas Love Field–DFW shuttleStrategy

  Background

  Metro sought to exploit the perception that Dallas Love Field was more convenient for Dallas residents than the newly opened Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.

  Action taken

  The airline introduced seven-minute Twin Otter flights between Love Field and DFW at a low advertised fare.

  Aftermath

  The service was discontinued in September 1975 after failing to become profitable.

  Source

1. 1Metro Airlinesen.wikipedia.org