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| Founded | 2016 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commenced operations | March 22, 2016; 8 years ago (2016-03-22) | ||||||
| AOC # | FJTA920D[1] | ||||||
| Hubs |
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| Destinations | 28[2] | ||||||
| Parent company |
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| Headquarters | Smyrna, Tennessee, United States | ||||||
| Key people | Matt Chaifetz (CEO)[3] | ||||||
| Website | contourairlines | ||||||
Contour Airlines is an independent regional airline headquartered at Smyrna AirportinSmyrna, Tennessee, United States.[4]
Contour Airlines is set up as 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]
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 IllinoisinMarion, 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]
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]
As of January 2024[update], Contour Airlines operates flights serving the following destinations:[20][21]
| City | Airport | IATA Code | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Alabama
| ||||
| Muscle Shoals | Northwest Alabama Regional Airport | MSL | Charlotte | AEAS community |
 Arizona
| ||||
| Page | Page Municipal Airport | PGA | Phoenix | AEAS community |
| Phoenix | Sky Harbor International Airport | PHX | Moab
Page Vernal |
|
 Georgia
| ||||
| Macon | Middle Georgia Regional Airport | MCN | Baltimore | AEAS community |
 Illinois
| ||||
| Chicago | Chicago O'Hare International Airport | ORD | Kirksville
Marion Owensboro |
|
| Marion | Veterans Airport of Southern Illinois | MWA | Chicago/O'Hare | EAS community |
 Kentucky
| ||||
| Paducah | Barkley Regional Airport | PAH | Charlotte | EAS community |
| Owensboro | Owensboro-Daviess County Regional Airport | OWB | Chicago/O'Hare | EAS community |
 Maryland
| ||||
| Baltimore | Baltimore-Washington International Airport | BWI | Macon | |
 Mississippi
| ||||
| Greenville | Greenville Mid-Delta Airport | GLH | Dallas/Fort Worth | AEAS community |
| Tupelo | Tupelo Regional Airport | TUP | Nashville | AEAS community |
 Missouri
| ||||
| Cape Girardeau | Cape Girardeau Regional Airport | CGI | Nashville | EAS community |
| Fort Leonard Wood | Waynesville-St. Robert Regional Airport | TBN | Nashville
Dallas |
EAS community |
| Kirksville | Kirksville Regional Airport | IRK | Chicago/O'Hare | EAS community |
 New York
| ||||
| Ogdensburg | Ogdensburg International Airport | OGS | Philadelphia | |
| Plattsburgh | Plattsburgh International Airport | PBG | Philadelphia | AEAS community |
 North Carolina
| ||||
| Charlotte | Charlotte Douglas International Airport | CLT | Altoona (starting October 1, 2024)[22]
Beckley Clarksburg Lewisburg Muscle Shoals Paducah Parkersburg Shenandoah |
|
 Pennsylvania
| ||||
| Altoona | Altoona–Blair County Airport | AOO | Charlotte (starting October 1, 2024)[22]
Philadelphia [23] (until September 30th, 2024)[22] |
AEAS community |
| Philadelphia | Philadelphia International Airport | PHL | Altoona
Ogdensburg Plattsburgh |
|
 Tennessee
| ||||
| Nashville | Nashville International Airport | BNA | Fort Leonard Wood
Cape Girardeau Tupelo |
|
 Texas
| ||||
| Dallas/Fort Worth | Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport | DFW | Greenville (MS)
Fort Leonard Wood |
|
 Utah
| ||||
| Moab | Canyonlands Regional Airport | CNY | Phoenix | AEAS community |
| Vernal | Vernal Regional Airport | VEL | Phoenix | AEAS community |
 Virginia
| ||||
| Shenandoah | Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport | SHD | Charlotte | EAS community |
 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 |
AEAS community |
| City | Airport | IATA Code | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 California
| ||||
| Crescent City | Del Norte County Airport | CEC | Oakland | Replaced by Advanced Air on March 17, 2024.[24] |
| Oakland | Oakland International Airport | OAK | Crescent City | Replaced by Advanced Air on March 17, 2024.[24] |
| 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[25] |
 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[26] |
| Georgia
| ||||
| Atlanta | Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport | ATL | Bowling Green | Ended due to low demand[27] |
| Kentucky
| ||||
| Bowling Green | Bowling Green–Warren County Regional Airport | BWG | Atlanta
Destin-Fort Walton |
Ended due to low demand[27] |
| Missouri
| ||||
| St. Louis | St. Louis Lambert International Airport | STL | Fort Leonard Wood | |
 Nevada
| ||||
| Las Vegas | Harry Reid International Airport | LAS | Page
San Luis Obispo Santa Barbara |
Ended due to COVID-19 pandemic |
| Pennsylvania
| ||||
| Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh International Airport | PIT | Indianapolis
Milwaukee |
Ended due to low demand |
 Wisconsin
| ||||
| Milwaukee | Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport | MKE | Indianapolis
Pittsburgh |
Ended due to low demand |
Contour uses a variety of regional jets in a 30-seat configuration under the Corporate Flight Management certificate.[28]
Contour has an interline agreement with American Airlines since October 2019,[29] 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.[30]
Since April 2024, Contour has an interline agreement with Alaska Airlines.[29] Passengers that book through Alaska Airlines are eligible to earn miles for Mileage Plan when flying Contour.[31]
Contour and United Airlines has a new interline agreement.[32] The partnership is expected to be in place starting October 2024.[33]
Passengers traveling with Contour receive free seat selection and their first piece of checked baggage without charge on all fare classes.[34] All Contour flights feature leather seating, 36 inches of legroom, and complimentary in-flight snack and beverage service.[6]
Companies
Aviation
