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Contour Airlines

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Contour Airlines
IATA ICAO Call sign
LF VTE VOLUNTEER
Founded2016
Commenced operationsMarch 22, 2016; 8 years ago (2016-03-22)
AOC #FJTA920D[1]
Hubs
Fleet size35
Destinations28[2]
Parent company
HeadquartersSmyrna, Tennessee, United States
Key peopleMatt Chaifetz (CEO)[3]
Employees800 (approx.)
Websitecontourairlines.com

Contour Airlines is an independent regional airline headquartered at Smyrna Airport in Smyrna, Tennessee, United States.[4]

Contour Airlines is set up as a public charter operator for regulatory purposes and does not directly operate aircraft. Contour Airlines charters 30-seat regional jets operated by its parent company, Contour Aviation, then resells seats on those aircraft to the public. The arrangement allows Contour to utilize pilots who are qualified to operate charter services, who can be either less experienced or older than allowed on commercial passenger flights.[5]

History

Contour Airlines was established by its parent company Contour Aviation in 2016. Contour began service on March 22, 2016, completing its inaugural flight from Nashville to Tupelo, Mississippi. Since then, Contour has expanded to 20 destinations nationwide, focusing on providing key business and leisure markets previously underserved with nonstop short-haul routes.[6]

On April 1, 2019, Contour retired its Jetstream 31/32 fleet and focused solely on ERJ-135/145 aircraft.

On February 5, 2020, Contour Airlines announced that it would add Indianapolis as a focus city and purchase additional ERJ-135/145 aircraft. The goal was to provide efficient service to markets within driving distance but without direct flights to capture travelers who would rather drive than fly with a layover.[7] The airline planned to serve Nashville, Pittsburgh and St. Louis from Indianapolis beginning June 10, 2020,[8] however, the service had been suspended indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[9] On July 28, 2021, Contour announced its relaunch in Indianapolis, beginning on October 12 and flying to Milwaukee, Nashville, and Pittsburgh.[10] However, Contour quietly dropped Milwaukee and Pittsburgh less than three months later.[11] According to Contour CEO Matt Chaifetz, the Indianapolis to Milwaukee route averaged 40% full and was climbing, but stalled in the winter due to fears over the omicron variant.[7] He said "the timing was just poor" for the new routes but said, "We're still committed to Indianapolis."[7]

Contour Airlines announced that it had returned to pre-COVID numbers in Tupelo, having more than 12,000 boardings in 2022. This helps increase funds granted by the FAA to Tupelo Airport, up from $150,000 to $1,000,000.[12]

On April 20, 2023, the Department of Transportation approved Contour Airlines' bid to replace Cape Air at Veterans Airport of Southern Illinois in Marion, Illinois. Contour will connect the airport to O'Hare International Airport starting August 1, 2023.[13] The contract is set to last three years.[14]

Contour Airlines CRJ-200LR at Charlotte Douglas International Airport

Due to inflation, Cape Air opted in late 2022 to cease operations out of Owensboro before the end of their contract, which was scheduled to end in 2023. Contour Airlines was chosen to replace Cape Air and commence operations to and from Charlotte.[15] However, both Contour Airlines and Owensboro Airport later decided to change the twelve Owensboro flights per week to go to Chicago O'Hare International Airport instead of Charlotte, which the Department of Transportation approved on May 30, 2023.[16] The service started on August 1, 2023.[17]

In early 2024, regional carrier SkyWest Airlines purchased a 25% ownership stake in Contour Airlines to gain access to its infrastructure, personnel, and operational expertise as it launches its own Part 135 operation, SkyWest Charter. SkyWest also plans to supply Contour with CRJ200 aircraft and partner with the airline to both recruit young pilots and provide opportunities to pilots who would otherwise need to retire due to age.[18][19]

Corporate affairs

As of 2024, Contour Airlines employs approximately 800 people across its operations. Matt Chaifetz is the current President & Chief Executive Officer and has been leading the company since its founding in 2016.[20] Kelly Ginn is the senior Executive Vice President responsible for the oversight and support of personnel needs at Contour.[20] She was originally part of Corporate Flight Management before the company restructured into what is now Contour Airlines.

Contour Airlines' pilots are represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA)[citation needed]. Contour currently employs nearly 200 pilots, all reporting to Greg Engel, the Chief Pilot. The company's flight dispatchers and flight coordinators who work in the Systems Operations Control Center (SOC) are not unionized.

Unlike some larger airlines, Contour Airlines maintains a relatively small and nimble workforce, the total number of employees being just over 800. The majority of its non-pilot staff, including ground crew, reservations agents, flight operations staff, and maintenance personnel, are non-unionized. This structure allows the airline to maintain flexibility in its operations and adapt quickly to changing market conditions.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Contour Airlines, like many other carriers, faced challenges.[21] However, due to its focus on essential air service routes and regional markets, the company was able to navigate the crisis without significant layoffs. As air travel has rebounded, Contour has been actively recruiting to support its growth and expansion into new markets.

Personnel

The airline's leadership team is composed of the following executives:[20]

  • Matt Chaifetz, President & CEO
  • Kelly Ginn, Executive Vice President of Finance
  • Lee Harris, Executive Vice President of Flight Operations
  • Aaron Armstrong, Executive Vice President of Maintenance
  • Rick Berry, Senior Vice President of Human Resources
  • David Woodard, Vice President of Airport Operations
  • Sybilla Slavin, Vice President of Charter Operations
  • Matt Ostermann, Vice President of FBO Operations
  • Collette Hilliary, Vice President of Inflight Services
  • John Masters, Vice President of Maintenance Operations
  • VACANT – Vice President of Safety & Compliance
  • VACANT – Vice President of Government Services

Corporate headquarters

Contour Airlines' Corporate Headquarters is located at 808 Blue Angel Way, on the grounds of Smyrna Airport (MQY) in Smyrna, Tennessee, a suburb of Nashville. The facility serves as the nerve center for the airline's operations and administrative functions. In addition, it is the home of the Systems Operations Control Center (SOC), the Inflight Services Training Center (IFS), the Reservations Call Center (RES), and various other administrative offices. This centralized location allows for efficient coordination between different departments, supporting Contour Airlines' operations across its network.

Destinations

As of January 2024, Contour Airlines operates flights serving the following destinations:[22][23]

City Airport IATA Code Destinations Notes
Alabama Alabama
Muscle Shoals Northwest Alabama Regional Airport MSL Charlotte AEAS community
Arizona Arizona
Page Page Municipal Airport PGA Phoenix AEAS community
Phoenix Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport PHX Moab
Page
Show Low (starting October 1, 2024)[24]
Vernal
Show Low Show Low Regional Airport SOW Phoenix AEAS community

Service starting October 1, 2024[24]

Georgia (U.S. state) Georgia
Macon Middle Georgia Regional Airport MCN Baltimore AEAS community
Illinois Illinois
Chicago O'Hare International Airport ORD Kirksville
Marion
Owensboro
Cape Girardeau (starting October 1, 2024)[25]
Fort Leonard Wood (starting October 1, 2024)[25]
Marion Veterans Airport of Southern Illinois MWA Chicago/O'Hare EAS community
Kentucky Kentucky
Paducah Barkley Regional Airport PAH Charlotte EAS community
Owensboro Owensboro-Daviess County Regional Airport OWB Chicago/O'Hare EAS community
Maryland Maryland
Baltimore Baltimore/Washington International Airport BWI Macon
Mississippi Mississippi
Greenville Greenville Mid-Delta Airport GLH Dallas/Fort Worth AEAS community
Tupelo Tupelo Regional Airport TUP Nashville AEAS community
Missouri Missouri
Cape Girardeau Cape Girardeau Regional Airport CGI Chicago (starting October 1, 2024)[25]
Nashville (ending September 30, 2024)[25] 		EAS community
Fort Leonard Wood Waynesville-St. Robert Regional Airport TBN Chicago (starting October 1, 2024)[25]
Nashville (ending September 30, 2024)[25]
Dallas 		EAS community
Kirksville Kirksville Regional Airport IRK Chicago/O'Hare EAS community
New York (state) New York
Ogdensburg Ogdensburg International Airport OGS Philadelphia To be replaced by Breeze Airways starting October 1st, 2024.[26]
Plattsburgh Plattsburgh International Airport PBG Philadelphia AEAS community
North Carolina North Carolina
Charlotte Charlotte Douglas International Airport CLT Altoona (starting October 1, 2024)[27]
Beckley
Clarksburg
Lewisburg
Muscle Shoals
Paducah
Parkersburg (via Beckley)
Shenandoah
Pennsylvania Pennsylvania
Altoona Altoona–Blair County Airport AOO Charlotte (starting October 1, 2024)[27]
Philadelphia [28] (ending September 30, 2024)[27] 		AEAS community
Philadelphia Philadelphia International Airport PHL Altoona (ending September 30th, 2024)[27]
Ogdensburg (ending September 30th, 2024)[26]
Plattsburgh
Tennessee Tennessee
Nashville Nashville International Airport BNA Fort Leonard Wood (ending September 30, 2024)[25]
Cape Girardeau (ending September 30, 2024)[25]
Tupelo
Dallas-Fort Worth (starting October 1, 2024)[25]
Texas Texas
Dallas/Fort Worth Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport DFW Greenville (MS)
Fort Leonard Wood
Nashville (starting October 1, 2024)[25]
Utah Utah
Moab Canyonlands Regional Airport CNY Phoenix AEAS community
Vernal Vernal Regional Airport VEL Phoenix AEAS community
Virginia Virginia
Shenandoah Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport SHD Charlotte EAS community
West Virginia West Virginia
Beckley Raleigh County Airport BKW Charlotte
Parkersburg 		AEAS community
Clarksburg North Central West Virginia Airport CKB Charlotte EAS community
Lewisburg Greenbrier Valley Airport LWB Charlotte EAS community
Parkersburg Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport PKB Beckley
Charlotte (via Beckley) 		AEAS community

Discontinued destinations

City Airport IATA Code Destinations Notes
California California
Crescent City Del Norte County Airport CEC Oakland Replaced by Advanced Air on March 17, 2024.[29]
Oakland Oakland International Airport OAK Crescent City Replaced by Advanced Air on March 17, 2024.[29]
Palm Springs Palm Springs International Airport PSP Sacramento (Seasonal) Ended due to COVID-19 pandemic
Sacramento Sacramento International Airport SMF Palm Springs (Seasonal)
Santa Barbara 		Ended due to COVID-19 pandemic
San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport SBP Las Vegas Ended due to COVID-19 pandemic
Santa Barbara Santa Barbara Municipal Airport SBA Las Vegas
Oakland
Sacramento 		Ended due to COVID-19 pandemic[30]
Florida Florida
Destin Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport VPS Bowling Green Ended due to low demand
Tampa Tampa International Airport TPA Charlotte
Macon 		Ended due to low demand[31]
Georgia (U.S. state) Georgia
Atlanta Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport ATL Bowling Green Ended due to low demand[32]
Kentucky Kentucky
Bowling Green Bowling Green–Warren County Regional Airport BWG Atlanta
Destin-Fort Walton 		Ended due to low demand[32]
Missouri Missouri
St. Louis St. Louis Lambert International Airport STL Fort Leonard Wood
Nevada Nevada
Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport LAS Page
San Luis Obispo
Santa Barbara 		Ended due to COVID-19 pandemic
New York (state) New York
Ogdensburg Ogdensburg International Airport OGS Philadelphia To be replaced by Breeze Airways starting October 1st, 2024.[26]
Pennsylvania Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh Pittsburgh International Airport PIT Indianapolis
Milwaukee 		Ended due to low demand
Wisconsin Wisconsin
Milwaukee Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport MKE Indianapolis
Pittsburgh 		Ended due to low demand

Fleet

Contour Airlines ERJ 135 at Baltimore/Washington International Airport

Contour uses a variety of regional jets in a 30-seat configuration under the Corporate Flight Management certificate.[33]

Contour Airlines fleet
Aircraft In Service Passengers Notes
Embraer ERJ-135 10 30 Owned and operated by Contour Aviation
Embraer ERJ-140 7
Embraer ERJ-145 3
Bombardier CRJ-100 1
Bombardier CRJ-200 10
Fleet total 31

Services

Interline agreement

Contour has an interline agreement with American Airlines since October 2019,[34] allowing passengers to travel via Contour and American under a single itinerary. Bookings can be made through third-party travel agencies, through the American Airlines website, or directly through the Contour Airlines website.[35]

Since April 2024, Contour has an interline agreement with Alaska Airlines.[34] Passengers that book through Alaska Airlines are eligible to earn miles for Mileage Plan when flying Contour.[36]

Contour and United Airlines have a new interline agreement.[37] The partnership is expected to be in place starting October 2024.[38]

In-flight experience

Passengers traveling with Contour receive free seat selection and their first piece of checked baggage without charge on all fare classes.[39] All Contour flights feature leather seating, 36 inches of legroom, and complimentary in-flight snack and beverage service.[6]

References

  1. ^ "Advisory Circular AC 135-13K: FAA Certificated Air Carriers Directory" (PDF). August 23, 2002. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  2. ^ "Contour Airlines Route Map". Contour Airlines. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  3. ^ "About Corporate Flight Management – CFM". Contour Aviation. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
  4. ^ "Directory: World Airlines". Flight International. April 3, 2007. p. 69.
  5. ^ Lau, Stuart “Kipp” (October 2, 2023). "The Fight Against Public Charter Providers is Heating Up". Aviation International News. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  6. ^ a b "Events Calendar".
  7. ^ a b c "Indianapolis airport loses direct flights to Milwaukee, Pittsburgh after just 3 months". The Indianapolis Star.
  8. ^ BF Staff (February 5, 2020). "Contour To Add Airline Base At Indianapolis International Airport". Business Facilities. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
  9. ^ Airport, Indianapolis (April 22, 2020). "Enzo, thanks for reaching out. We're working closely with @ContourAirlines regarding their launch in the Indy market. Due to the impact of COVID-19 on the aviation industry as a whole, Contour's Indy inaugural flights have been pushed back to an undetermined time". @INDairport. Retrieved May 12, 2020.
  10. ^ Alex Brown (July 28, 2021). "Contour Airlines Resumes Indy Airport Plans". WISHTV. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  11. ^ "Here today... Contour Airlines drops Indianapolis, Milwaukee flights after less than three months in Pittsburgh". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  12. ^ Montgomery, Garner (January 18, 2023). "Contour Airlines: More than 12K boardings in 2022". WTVA. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  13. ^ Heller, Marsha (April 21, 2023). "Contour Air selected for service at Veterans Airport in Marion, Ill". KFVS12. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  14. ^ Fuller, Leanne (April 20, 2023). "Department of Transportation approves Contour as air service provider for Veterans Airport of Southern Illinois". WPSD Local 6. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  15. ^ Richardson, Ryan (January 18, 2023). "OWB board recommends jet service to Charlotte; flights to Nashville and St. Louis would cease". The Owensboro Times. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  16. ^ "ORDER APPROVING ALTERNATE SERVICE PATTERN" (PDF). downloads.regulations.gov. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  17. ^ Richardson, Ryan (June 7, 2023). "OWB to offer daily jet service to Chicago starting August 1". The Owensboro Times. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
  18. ^ Hardee, Howard. "SkyWest acquires partial ownership of US charter operator Contour Airlines". Flight Global. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
  19. ^ Ewing, Ryan (February 2, 2024). "SkyWest Acquires Stake in Contour Airlines, Bolsters Charter Presence". AirlineGeeks.com. Firecrown. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
  20. ^ a b c "About Us". www.contouraviation.com. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  21. ^ "Contour Airlines Suspends Service at San Luis Obispo County". www.slocounty.ca.gov. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  22. ^ "Regulations.gov". www.regulations.gov. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  23. ^ "Contour Airlines – Flight schedules". www.contourairlines.com. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  24. ^ a b Department of Transportation (August 22, 2024). "2024-8-17 Order Setting Annual Service Levels and Total Costs Under the Alternate Essential Air Service Program". Regulations.gov. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
  25. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Department of Transportation (July 29, 2024). "2024-7-17 Order Approving Alternate Service Pattern". Regulations.gov. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  26. ^ a b c Department of Transportation (September 17, 2024). "2024-9-12 Order Selecting Air Carrier". Regulations.gov. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  27. ^ a b c d Department of Transportation (July 3, 2024). "2024-7-3 Order Setting Annual Service Levels and Total Costs Under the Alternate Essential Air Service Program". Regulations.gov. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
  28. ^ "New airline offers flights from Altoona to Philadelphia". WTAJ – www.wearecentralpa.com. August 16, 2022. Retrieved August 26, 2022.
  29. ^ a b Gerardi, Joey (January 5, 2024). "Advanced Air to Operate U.S.'s Longest Dornier 328 Flight". Airline Geeks. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  30. ^ McCormick, Grayce (December 17, 2020). "Southwest soaring to SB". Santa Barbara News-Press. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  31. ^ "Macon Regional Airport ends Tampa flight, continues casino and Baltimore-Washington trips". WMAZ. March 22, 2019. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  32. ^ a b By, WES SWIETEK (February 17, 2018). "Local Destin flights won't return". Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  33. ^ "Contour Aviation Fleet Details and History". Planespotters.net. May 2, 2023. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  34. ^ a b "Corporate Flight Management Inc. dba Contour Airlines (Proposal) Docket (DOT-OST-1997-2842)". Regulations.gov. May 16, 2024. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
  35. ^ "MOV Regional Airport eyes marketing". mariettatimes.com. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  36. ^ "Contour Airlines". www.alaskaair.com. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
  37. ^ Newton, Carly (July 2, 2024). "Contour addresses operation questions". Press-Republican. Retrieved July 7, 2024.
  38. ^ Department of Transportation (July 3, 2024). "Corporate Flight Management Inc. dba Contour Airlines (Proposal)". Regulations.gov. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
  39. ^ "Contour Airlines". www.contourairlines.com. Archived from the original on May 6, 2020.
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