American Airlines won’t be renewing its contracts with regional carriers ExpressJet and Trans State when they expire in 2019, according to Bloomberg News. The report cites a memo to reservations agents that goes on to state the move is being made to streamline passenger experience and that ExpressJet and Trans State flights will be shifted to other airlines. American Airlines also ended its contract with Air Wisconsin Airlines in February.
In addition to the 12 CRJ700s it flies for American, ExpressJet has a partnership with United Airlines. The company flew for Delta as well until Delta ended that contract in August 2017. ExpressJet is owned by SkyWest Inc., which also operates SkyWest Airlines. SkyWest Airlines has a separate partnership with American and will reportedly be taking over the routes flown by ExpressJet. St. Louis-based Trans State flies for United as well. It has been reported that its American routes will be flown by Envoy Airlines once the contract expires.
