SaabFA71 wrote:

I'd like to see Contour come to MDT and/or LNS with flights to PIT. MDT and LNS haven't seen scheduled service to PIT since Southern Airways Express and USAir Express before that. The only way now to get to PIT is either by Amtrak or Megabus, which can take several hours. I still hear people in the Harrisburg and Lancaster areas wish for air service to come back to PIT, so I think the route should be viable.

If Contour were to fly to Lancaster, it's gonna be to/from CLT. Much better connecting opportunities (thanks to AA interline) than PIT.

Owensboro is recommending Contour for service to CLT, replacing Cape Air.

https://www.owensborotimes.com/news/2023/01/owb-board-recommends-jet-service-to-charlotte-ditching-flights-to-nashville-and-st-louis/

BangersAndMash wrote:

Owensboro is recommending Contour for service to CLT, replacing Cape Air.

https://www.owensborotimes.com/news/2023/01/owb-board-recommends-jet-service-to-charlotte-ditching-flights-to-nashville-and-st-louis/

With all of this growth, I would not be surprised if they let go of the western flying to CEC and Page. Though jet service to Page has proven to be successful.

FlyingElvii wrote:

BangersAndMash wrote:

Owensboro is recommending Contour for service to CLT, replacing Cape Air.

https://www.owensborotimes.com/news/2023/01/owb-board-recommends-jet-service-to-charlotte-ditching-flights-to-nashville-and-st-louis/

With all of this growth, I would not be surprised if they let go of the western flying to CEC and Page. Though jet service to Page has proven to be successful.

These two are isolated from the rest of the network, yes. Although there are some opportunities in the Southwest too so nothing prevents them from growing there. I didn't think they'd offer ORD, and yet here we are.

Page is an interesting one. They were also serving LAS pre-Covid (some of it unsubsidised) and there have been persistent rumour it might come back. I wonder if we will see it again.

FlyingElvii wrote:

BangersAndMash wrote:

Owensboro is recommending Contour for service to CLT, replacing Cape Air.

https://www.owensborotimes.com/news/2023/01/owb-board-recommends-jet-service-to-charlotte-ditching-flights-to-nashville-and-st-louis/

With all of this growth, I would not be surprised if they let go of the western flying to CEC and Page. Though jet service to Page has proven to be successful.

The AEAS agreement between CEC and LF ends on Sept 30, 2024. In 2022 the airline asked the airport authority to consider flying to Sacramento instead of Oakland so the interline agreement with American more useful. The authority voted it down.

910A wrote:

FlyingElvii wrote:

BangersAndMash wrote:

Owensboro is recommending Contour for service to CLT, replacing Cape Air.

https://www.owensborotimes.com/news/2023/01/owb-board-recommends-jet-service-to-charlotte-ditching-flights-to-nashville-and-st-louis/

With all of this growth, I would not be surprised if they let go of the western flying to CEC and Page. Though jet service to Page has proven to be successful.

The AEAS agreement between CEC and LF ends on Sept 30, 2024. In 2022 the airline asked the airport authority to consider flying to Sacramento instead of Oakland so the interline agreement with American more useful. The authority voted it down.

CEC would be an easy one for Skywest Charter to bid for, given the SFO base.

OO dropped their EAS obligation at CEC when they retired the EMB-120, saying they couldn't fly the CRJ into the airport; something about hills and the glideslope. So it's unlikely they'd come back.

Contour hit 10K emplanements at both their Mississippi markets, Tupelo and Greenville, in 2022.

Greenville is notable as they haven't been at that level since the 2008 financial crisis. If they repeat the feat in 2023, that's worth $1M a year in Feds money.

https://www.djournal.com/news/business/tupelo-regional-airport-records-12-000-plus-passengers-for-2022/article_65265d2d-73da-5e6d-be79-b2d42f7c5d45.html

https://www.ddtonline.com/local-content-top-stories/10000-flew-here-2022#sthash.HIhRky7p.dpbs

Contour Airlines is moving to Concourse E starting March 23rd utilizing E1, E2, and E3 and will average 13 daily flights. Below the wing will be Piedmont employees with Contour providing above the wing services. The primary aircraft will be E135/140/145s and the occasional CR2.

JohanTally wrote:

Contour Airlines is moving to Concourse E starting March 23rd utilizing E1, E2, and E3 and will average 13 daily flights. Below the wing will be Piedmont employees with Contour providing above the wing services. The primary aircraft will be E135/140/145s and the occasional CR2.

CR2? I wonder if that's the former Crystal Global... that would be a SWEET SWEET ride for an EAS route! <3

usxguy wrote:

CR2? I wonder if that's the former Crystal Global... that would be a SWEET SWEET ride for an EAS route! <3

It has used both N209RW and N258PS as substitutes.

MO11 wrote:

usxguy wrote:

CR2? I wonder if that's the former Crystal Global... that would be a SWEET SWEET ride for an EAS route! <3

It has used both N209RW and N258PS as substitutes.

I've been seeing 258 with a LF flight number on FR24 a lot and was wondering what that was. I wasn't aware they had CR2's in their fleet, the things you learn on here lol.

N383SW wrote:

MO11 wrote:

usxguy wrote:

CR2? I wonder if that's the former Crystal Global... that would be a SWEET SWEET ride for an EAS route! <3

It has used both N209RW and N258PS as substitutes.

I've been seeing 258 with a LF flight number on FR24 a lot and was wondering what that was. I wasn't aware they had CR2's in their fleet, the things you learn on here lol.

Charter airplane usually.

MWA-Marion, Illinois has voted for Contour

Source: https://www.wfcnnews.com/veterans_airpo ... XW8PYWmOJE

Contour also bid for Kirksville, Missouri, as of this post, they haven't made their decision.

Alex

MCN-BWI seems to stick out like a sore thumb on their route map. Do they have to wait until the contract is up for renewal to switch that to CLT? I would think both they and AA would prefer that. Also, is there any chance that LF:
-becomes an actual AE carrier (although losing that cool livery would be a bummer)?
-does any non-EAS flying, therefore freeing them up to take some routes that re now operated by Eagle?

Isn't BWI what MCN wanted and that's why they are doing it?

Duplicate.

altairF28 wrote:

MCN-BWI seems to stick out like a sore thumb on their route map. Do they have to wait until the contract is up for renewal to switch that to CLT? I would think both they and AA would prefer that. Also, is there any chance that LF:
-becomes an actual AE carrier (although losing that cool livery would be a bummer)?
-does any non-EAS flying, therefore freeing them up to take some routes that re now operated by Eagle?

I don't know about in the East, but pre-Covid, they did a bunch of non- subsidized routes in the West. Focused on SBA and OAK, they flew that (until WN started), plus SBA-LAS/SMF, LAS-PGA, SMF-PSP, LAS-SBP. The only subsidized routes are PGA-PHX and OAK-CEC, which they still do daily. They do run a second OAK-CEC non-subsidized flight 2x daily in Summer.
Their IND markets were to be at risk. I don't know about others.

altairF28 wrote:

MCN-BWI seems to stick out like a sore thumb on their route map. Do they have to wait until the contract is up for renewal to switch that to CLT? I would think both they and AA would prefer that. Also, is there any chance that LF:
-becomes an actual AE carrier (although losing that cool livery would be a bummer)?
-does any non-EAS flying, therefore freeing them up to take some routes that re now operated by Eagle?

That was requested by the community. They would prefer DCA, but slots, security requirements, and the expenses required make BWI a better choice, for now. There has been some talk of moving it to Dulles, but just talk as far as I know.

Most Macon traffic is government-related, due to the Air Force Base and Northrop.

Those flights go out nearly full to BWI twice a day…

FlyingElvii wrote:

altairF28 wrote:

MCN-BWI seems to stick out like a sore thumb on their route map. Do they have to wait until the contract is up for renewal to switch that to CLT? I would think both they and AA would prefer that. Also, is there any chance that LF:
-becomes an actual AE carrier (although losing that cool livery would be a bummer)?
-does any non-EAS flying, therefore freeing them up to take some routes that re now operated by Eagle?

That was requested by the community. They would prefer DCA, but slots, security requirements, and the expenses required make BWI a better choice, for now. There has been some talk of moving it to Dulles, but just talk as far as I know.

Most Macon traffic is government-related, due to the Air Force Base and Northrop.

Those flights go out nearly full to BWI twice a day…

Given where Contour is now, I could see a daily MCN-CLT offered off-contract. They briefly flew MCN-TPA back in 2018 so it's not like it hasn't been tried before.

BangersAndMash wrote:

FlyingElvii wrote:

altairF28 wrote:

MCN-BWI seems to stick out like a sore thumb on their route map. Do they have to wait until the contract is up for renewal to switch that to CLT? I would think both they and AA would prefer that. Also, is there any chance that LF:
-becomes an actual AE carrier (although losing that cool livery would be a bummer)?
-does any non-EAS flying, therefore freeing them up to take some routes that re now operated by Eagle?

That was requested by the community. They would prefer DCA, but slots, security requirements, and the expenses required make BWI a better choice, for now. There has been some talk of moving it to Dulles, but just talk as far as I know.

Most Macon traffic is government-related, due to the Air Force Base and Northrop.

Those flights go out nearly full to BWI twice a day…

Given where Contour is now, I could see a daily MCN-CLT offered off-contract. They briefly flew MCN-TPA back in 2018 so it's not like it hasn't been tried before.

That won’t happen. Subsidized flying is what they want.

We have had a lot of Contour Airline news and updates in the past two weeks...here are the summarized news of Contour...

Contour has been selected to take over Cape Air in MWA, IRK and OWB beginning August 1st.

Tickets are on sale on Contour's website for IRK and MWA to Chicago. OWB Ticket sales as of this post have NOT gone on sale. We are still unable to book tickets on AA's Website interlining with Contour.

DOT Source: https://www.regulations.gov/document/DO ... -2515-0117

Media News for...
Marion: https://www.wsiltv.com/news/contour-air ... fc7aa.html

Kirksville: https://www.kirksvilledailyexpress.com/ ... cago,10250

Owensboro: No announcement yet in Media

Cape Air's last day in STL and BNA and those stations will be July 31st, 2023

*******************************************************************************************************************************************************
Contour may be cutting back flights at Greenville Mid Delta Airport due to rising fuel costs

Source: https://www.deltanews.tv/local-events/r ... c4aa7.html

Notes: CONTOUR CEO MATT CHAIFETZ EXPLAINED THOSE FINE DETAILS TO THE GREENVILLE CITY COUNCIL.

“$3 million is no longer sufficient to support club weekly flights on a regional jet. Dallas in particular is a high cost airport for us. We think it would be in the community's best interest to retain the Dallas light. But the $3 million in subsidy is only sufficient to provide a single daily round trip.”

CHAIFETZ’ PROPOSED DEAL WOULD REDUCE THE FLIGHTS FROM 12 TO 7 AND ELIMINATE THE FLIGHTS TO NASHVILLE.

***********************************************************************************************************************************************************

Contour did place a bid for Ironwood Airport but lost to DAC-Denver Air Connect, the incumbent in terms of the Airport's Selection, DOT will make final decision.

DOT Comments from Ironwood: https://www.regulations.gov/document/DO ... -1266-0214


Alex

Contour is also in discussion over an AEAS contract at Moab. Flights would be to PHX.

https://moabsunnews.com/2023/04/20/new-agreement-will-route-moab-flights-to-arizona-hub/

In a (not so?) surprise twist...Contour and OWB-Owensboro has worked out an agreement to switch from CLT-Charlotte to Chicago-ORD!

Source: https://www.owensborotimes.com/news/202 ... uld-cease/

Notes: In January, the Owensboro-Daviess County Regional Airport (OWB) board approved making a recommendation to accept a bid from Contour Airlines to become the new Essential Air Service (EAS) provider for OWB.

That initial recommendation was for Contour to provide daily round-trip flights between OWB and Charlotte-Douglas International Airport.

However, Contour and the OWB board had mutual interest in modifying that plan to provide service to Chicago rather than Charlotte, according to OWB board chair Doug Hoyt.

If approved by DOT, Contour will offer Chicago to all 3 former Cape Air cities, MWA, IRK and OWB.

This sort of makes sense since OWB is "down the road" from Paducah-PAH that is currently offering CLT service and EVV does not have Chicago service.

OWB can pull traffic from EVV/PAH for those who want to go to Chicago, PAH can pull traffic for those who want to go to CLT.

Alex