Air Choice One
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Airline |
| Founded | 1979 |
| Defunct | 2022 |
| Fate | Acquired by Southern Airways Corporation; brand and operations ceased |
| Successor | Southern Airways Express |
| Headquarters | Concord, Missouri , United States |
Area served | Regional commuter service in the United States (primarily Midwest and South) |
Key people | Mike Weber (inaugural Chief Pilot) |
| Products | Essential Air Service commuter flights, seasonal cargo flights for UPS |
| Owner | Southern Airways Corporation (from 2022) |
| Parent | Southern Airways Corporation (from 2022) |
Multi-Aero, Inc., known commercially as Air Choice One and functioning as a branch of Southern Airways Corporation, was a regional commuter airline based in Concord, Missouri, within the Greater St. Louis metropolitan area. It specialized in providing Essential Air Service (EAS) subsidized commuter flights, mainly operating from St. Louis Lambert International Airport to smaller regional airports. The callsign "Weber" was a tribute to Mike Weber, the airline’s inaugural Chief Pilot.
History
Established in 1979 under the name Multi-Aero Corporation, Air Choice One obtained its initial EAS contracts in 2009, serving Decatur, Illinois, and Burlington, Iowa. In December 2011, it took over service from SeaPort Airlines at Jonesboro, Arkansas. The U.S. Department of Transportation extended its contracts for Decatur and Burlington through 2016, contingent upon the airline's adoption of electronic ticketing and baggage interline agreements via WorldSpan by late 2012—improving integration with major carriers’ booking systems.
In December 2017, the airline secured a four-year extension for its Burlington contract but lost the Decatur route after nearly eight years of operation. By 2018, Air Choice One began deploying Beechcraft 1900C aircraft on routes such as Fort Dodge, Iowa to Minneapolis and St. Louis, reflecting efforts to broaden its EAS service portfolio.
The company updated its ICAO designator from WBR to ACO early in 2019 and implemented InteliSys’ ameliaRES reservation platform to optimize passenger service management with features like real-time inventory updates and codeshare functionality. In early 2020, it introduced the Choice Plus frequent flyer program along with enhancements to web check-in and mobile device compatibility.
Additionally, Air Choice One operated seasonal cargo flights on behalf of United Parcel Service from various U.S. locations. In 2021, it incorporated TSA PreCheck into its booking procedures to facilitate expedited security screening for travelers.
By mid-2021, the Burlington airport board recommended Cape Air as the successor for Air Choice One’s EAS contract, whereas Jonesboro’s airport board favored continuing Air Choice One’s service with added destinations including Nashville. The Department of Transportation approved a four-year contract renewal along with the commencement of a new Nashville route beginning March 2022.
On March 28, 2022, Southern Airways Corporation acquired Air Choice One with initial plans to maintain separate operational certificates. However, by July 2, 2022, Southern Airways ceased Air Choice One’s brand and operations, consolidating all flights under Southern Airways Express and discontinuing the Air Choice One website.
Destinations
| City | Airport | IATA code | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Template:Country data ArkansasTemplate:Namespace detect showall Arkansas | ||||
| Jonesboro | Jonesboro Municipal Airport | JBR | St. Louis
Nashville |
EAS community; rebranded as Southern by mid-2022 |
| Template:Country data MissouriTemplate:Namespace detect showall Missouri | ||||
| St. Louis | St. Louis Lambert International Airport | STL | Jonesboro | Hub |
| Template:Country data TennesseeTemplate:Namespace detect showall Tennessee | ||||
| Nashville | Nashville International Airport | BNA | Jonesboro | |
Previous Service Locations
| City | Airport | IATA Code | Routes Served | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | ||||
| Destin | Destin Executive Airport | DTS | Jackson | Operated seasonally |
| Georgia | ||||
| Atlanta | Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport | ATL | Jackson | |
| Illinois | ||||
| Chicago | O'Hare International Airport | ORD | Burlington | |
| Decatur | Decatur Airport | DEC | Chicago O'Hare, St. Louis | EAS Community; service contract awarded to Cape Air |
| Iowa | ||||
| Burlington | Southeast Iowa Regional Airport | BRL | Chicago O'Hare, St. Louis | EAS Community; contract held by Cape Air |
| Fort Dodge | Fort Dodge Regional Airport | FOD | Mason City, Minneapolis, St. Louis | EAS Community; contract assigned to SkyWest Airlines |
| Mason City | Mason City Municipal Airport | MCW | Burlington, Minneapolis, Chicago O'Hare | EAS Community; contract awarded to SkyWest Airlines |
| Michigan | ||||
| Ironwood | Gogebic–Iron County Airport | IWD | Chicago O'Hare, Minneapolis | EAS Community; contract granted to Boutique Air |
| Minnesota | ||||
| Minneapolis | Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport | MSP | Fort Dodge, Ironwood, Mason City | |
| Missouri | ||||
| Kirksville, Missouri | Kirksville Regional Airport | STL | St. Louis | EAS Community; contract held by Cape Air |
| Tennessee | ||||
| Jackson, Tennessee | McKellar–Sipes Regional Airport | MKL | Atlanta, Destin, St. Louis | EAS Community; contract awarded to Boutique Air |
Aircraft Inventory
Prior to discontinuing services, Air Choice One operated the following aircraft:
| Aircraft Model | Quantity in Fleet | Seating Capacity | Additional Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beechcraft 1900C | 1 | 9 seats | Configured for nine passengers; plans to expand to 19 seats pending FAA approval anticipated in Q2 2022 |
| Cessna 208B Grand Caravan | 2 | 8 seats | Both aircraft capable of conversion to all-cargo layout |
| Total Fleet Size | 3 | ||
At its height, the airline operated a total of twelve Cessna 208B aircraft alongside one Beechcraft 1900C, supporting its regional connectivity model.
Choice Plus Program
Air Choice One featured Choice Plus, a loyalty program created to reward frequent flyers. Points were earned based on the ticket fare category:
- Business Fare – Earned points equal to 100% of dollars spent
- Everyday Fare – Earned points equal to 60% of dollars spent
Accumulated points could be redeemed for future flights and expired after two years, reflecting the airline’s approach to customer engagement and retention.
External links
- Articles with short description
- Defunct regional airlines of the United States
- Airlines established in 1979
- Airlines disbanded in 2022
- Companies located in St. Louis County, Missouri
- American firms founded in 1979
- American firms closed in 2022
- 1979 establishments in Missouri
- 2022 closures in Missouri
- Airlines headquartered in Missouri
- 5
- American companies established in 1979
- Companies of the United States by year of establishment