Air Wisconsin
, one of the United States’ oldest regional airlines
, has announced a major strategic move that would restructure its operations and long-standing partnership with American Airlines
. The regional airline is set to finalize its capacity purchase agreement (CPA) with American Airlines in April 2025 as part of a redesigned business model, the carrier said in a statement. Following this changeover, the two carriers will enter into a codeshare and interline agreement, bringing an end to Air Wisconsin’s unique function as an American Airlines regional affiliate.
Photo: Air Wisconsin
The move, which is likely to have a substantial influence on the regional aviation scene, follows Air Wisconsin’s decision to focus its efforts on two main growth areas: the federally funded Essential Air Service
(EAS) market and charter operations. The airline’s fleet of 50-seat CRJ-200
aircraft, which are in high demand due to their effectiveness on smaller, regional routes and charter flights, is the target of this strategic realignment.
Focusing on essential air service
Air Wisconsin’s CRJ-200s are well suited to the Essential Air Service program, which supports air connectivity to underserved and rural communities across the United States. These communities often lack access to major airports or commercial flight options, making EAS flights a vital link for residents.
“This strategic shift underscores our adaptability and commitment to delivering reliable, customized air travel solutions where they are most needed,” Robert Binns, President & CEO of Air Wisconsin, said in the statement. “As we diversify into EAS and grow our charter operations, we remain committed to delivering safe, efficient, and quality service to every community and customer we serve.“
Charter sector opportunities
In addition to EAS services, Air Wisconsin sees a considerable possibility in the Charter
sector. Demand for the airline’s CRJ-200 aircraft has increased, especially from collegiate sports teams in the NCAA. Following the realignment of major athletic conferences, many teams face longer travel distances for both regular season games and post-season tournaments. The fleet of Air Wisconsin is well-suited to satisfy the increasing need for specialized travel options in the college sports industry, since it can accommodate smaller groups and teams.
Photo: Air Wisconsin
Air Wisconsin’s fleet of 60 CRJ-200 jets is ideal for these types of operations. With 50 seats and a relatively low operating cost, the CRJ-200 is a highly versatile aircraft for regional flying and specialized Charter flights
, including for large group travel and corporate charters.
Air Wisconsin has operated the CRJ-200 for American under the American Eagle
brand, flying to many Midwest markets mostly from Chicago O’Hare International Airport
. After the agreement ends in April 2025, American will be more dependent on its fully owned regional businesses, PSA Airlines
, Piedmont Airlines
, and Envoy Air
, to provide the flights from O’Hare.
Impact on American Airlines and regional network
The move will affect 47 markets served under a capacity purchase agreement partnership, according to PaxEx.Aero. Airline Geeks reported that American’s last CRJ-200 flight, flight 6102, is scheduled to take off from Chicago O’Hare at 20:40 local time and land in Kalamazoo, Michigan, at 22:45.
2:17
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Since 1965, Air Wisconsin has operated in the regional airline industry, according to its website. Since our modest beginnings, the carrier has swiftly expanded to serve several locations throughout the Midwest and East Coast. American Airlines announced in 2022 that Air Wisconsin would become a member of the American Eagle family. American Eagle will begin using Air Wisconsin’s fleet by March of the following year for regional flights. Before the announcement, Air Wisconsin had operated explicitly as United express
since 2018.
Photo: Catharine Pierce | Shutterstock
Regional airlines
With many regional airlines operating throughout its network, American Airlines runs its regional flights under the American Eagle brand. Among these, Mesa Airlines, SkyWest, Air Wisconsin, GoJet, Republic Airways, and Commutair all operate under the American Eagle name under separate agreements, while Piedmont Airlines, PSA Airlines, and Envoy Air are fully owned subsidiaries of American. These regional airlines are essential to American Airlines’ extensive network since they link smaller locations to important hubs like Philadelphia, Dallas/Fort Worth, and Chicago.
Four United States mainline airlines, American, Delta, United, and Alaska, all operate regional flights under their names through various affiliated carriers.