Air New Orleans

Air New Orleans
Company type	Private
Industry	Airline
Founded	1981
Defunct	1988
Fate	Ceased operations
Headquarters	Birmingham, Alabama, United States
Area served	Southeastern United States
Products	Scheduled passenger air services

Adapted from the English Wikipedia article Air New Orleans, available under CC BY-SA 4.0Updated 8 August 2025

Air New Orleans was an airline headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, founded in 1981 originally in Panama City, Florida to deliver commuter air services throughout the Southeastern United States, spanning from Texas to Florida. The airline maintained scheduled passenger operations until it discontinued service in 1988.

History

The airline’s initial base was in Panama City, Florida, with executive offices situated in New Orleans. In 1986, the company moved its headquarters to Birmingham, Alabama, where it remained until its shutdown in 1988.

By mid-1986, Air New Orleans functioned as a Continental Express affiliate under a code sharing partnership with Continental Airlines. It provided feeder flights at New Orleans International Airport (MSY) utilizing British Aerospace BAe Jetstream 31 and Beechcraft C99 turboprop aircraft. Early in 1987, its Continental Express network linked New Orleans with several major Southeastern cities such as Birmingham (BHM), Gulfport (GPT), Fort Walton Beach (VPS), Jacksonville (JAX), Mobile (MOB), Orlando (MCO), Panama City (PFN), Pensacola (PNS), and Tallahassee (TLH).

Struggling with financial challenges, Air New Orleans filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in January 1988 and ultimately ceased all operations on June 17, 1988.

Fleet

8 – Beechcraft C99 turboprop aircraft
5 – Twin piston engine commuter planes by Piper Aircraft
4 – British Aerospace BAe Jetstream 31 turboprops
Unknown number – GAF Nomad

Accidents and incidents

On May 26, 1987, an Air New Orleans-operated Continental Express flight using a British Aerospace BAe Jetstream 31 (registration N331CY) crash-landed shortly after departing from New Orleans International Airport. The aircraft collided with eight lanes of traffic on nearby U.S. 61, causing injuries to two individuals on the ground. All eleven passengers and crew aboard survived. Investigation attributed the accident to pilot error, including failure to adhere to checklists and improper management of engine complications during climb-out, revealing weaknesses in crew communication and checklist procedures.