Britt Airways

Britt Airways

Company type	Regional airline
Industry	Aviation
Founded	1964
Founder	William and Marilyn Britt
Defunct	1996
Fate	Merged with ExpressJet
Headquarters	Terre Haute, Indiana , United States
Area served	United States (regional)
Products	Passenger air service (regional)

Britt Airways was a regional U.S. airline that operated from 1964 until it merged with ExpressJet in 1996. Initially established as Vercoa Air Service in 1964, the airline was purchased and renamed by William and Marilyn Britt in 1975. Based in Terre Haute, Indiana, Britt Airways began as a commuter carrier mainly utilizing turboprop aircraft. It also briefly operated British Aircraft Corporation BAC One-Eleven twinjets as an independent operator. Over the years, the airline transitioned toward regional operations, concentrating on code-share agreements primarily with Continental Airlines, which bolstered its presence and competitive position in regional air travel.

History

By 1969, Britt Airways had incorporated Beechcraft 99 turboprops into its fleet, running flights under the Allegheny Commuter brand for Allegheny Airlines out of Chicago O'Hare, following Allegheny's acquisition of Lake Central Airlines. Initially, Britt connected Chicago with Danville, Illinois. During 1978-79, the airline operated both Allegheny Commuter and independent routes from Chicago O'Hare to various regional destinations using Beechcraft 99 and Swearingen Metroliner turboprop aircraft. By 1980, Britt expanded its Chicago hub by adding new destinations and introducing larger Fairchild Hiller FH-227 turboprops.

In 1981, Britt Airways launched independent hubs at Chicago O'Hare (ORD), St. Louis Lambert (STL), and Indianapolis (IND). By 1985, it began jet operations with BAC One-Eleven aircraft alongside its turboprop fleet. That same year, founder Bill Britt sold the airline to People Express, which established a St. Louis hub featuring select code-share flights under the People Express (PE) brand, while maintaining the RU code for Chicago operations.

Between late 1985 and 1986, Britt provided code-share services for Piedmont Airlines (1948-1989) at Dayton International Airport (DAY), supporting Piedmont’s hub there. Later in 1985, Frank Lorenzo’s Texas Air Corporation acquired People Express. Prior to this, Texas Air had merged Texas International Airlines with Continental Airlines under the Continental brand in 1982; Continental eventually merged into United Airlines in 2010.

On February 1, 1987, People Express and Continental combined under the Continental name. Subsequently, Britt Airways operated code-share flights as Continental Express from major hubs at Houston Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and Newark International Airport (EWR). Operations at Chicago O'Hare also shifted to Continental Express but were discontinued by early 1989. A single route between Chicago Meigs Field and Springfield, Illinois continued until 1991. In 1989, Britt served as Continental Express’s principal feeder carrier at Houston using ATR-42 and Embraer EMB-120 Brasilia aircraft; by 1991 it fulfilled a comparable role at Newark.

Beginning in November 1987, Continental created a hub at Cleveland Hopkins Airport (CLE) with Britt operating Continental Express feeder flights using Swearingen Metroliner propjets; by 1989 all Cleveland services employed EMB-120 aircraft.

In 1991, Britt assumed Continental Express operations from Denver (DEN), previously managed by Rocky Mountain Airways, utilizing de Havilland Canada DHC-7 Dash 7, Beechcraft 1900C, and ATR-42 turboprops.

This growth illustrates Britt Airways’ strategic evolution toward partnerships, regional feeder services, and a diversified fleet to enhance its market share and operational reach within the American regional airline sector.

Destinations in 1984

Based on the route map dated May 29, 1984, Britt Airways operated as an independent airline serving the following locations. Destinations highlighted in bold were provided with British Aircraft Corporation BAC One-Eleven jet service by early 1985.

• Bloomington, IL/Normal, IL
• Bloomington, IN
• Burlington, IA
• Cape Girardeau, MO
• Cedar Rapids, IA (also serving Iowa City, IA)
• Chicago, IL - O'Hare Airport – Main Hub
• Champaign, IL (serving Urbana, IL)
• Cincinnati, OH
• Danville, IL
• Decatur, IL
• Detroit, MI
• Evansville, IN
• Galesburg, IL
• Indianapolis, IN – Secondary Hub
• Lafayette, IN
• Mattoon, IL/Charleston, IL
• Memphis, TN
• Marion, IL/Herrin, IL
• Moline, IL (serving Davenport, IA)
• Muncie, IN
• Paducah, KY
• Peoria, IL
• Quincy, IL
• St. Louis, MO – Secondary Hub
• South Bend, IN
• Springfield, IL
• Sterling, IL/Rock Falls, IL
• Terre Haute, IN – Corporate Headquarters

Fleet

According to World Airline Fleets 1979, Britt Airways' fleet comprised:

By the years 1987-88 the airline's aircraft inventory consisted of:

Throughout its operation period Britt flew a variety of aircraft including ATR-42s; Beechcraft models 99 and 1900C; BAC One-Eleven series 400 jets (the airline's exclusive jet type); Embraer EMB 120 Brasilias; Fairchild F-27 and FH-227 turboprops; and Swearingen Metroliner IIs. After commencing Continental Express services from Denver, Britt added Beechcraft 1900C and de Havilland Canada DHC-7 Dash 7 planes previously operated by Rocky Mountain Airways.

Accidents and incidents

• The airline’s inaugural fatal crash happened on January 30, 1984. A repositioning trip from Terre Haute to Evansville ended in a crash shortly after departure that claimed the lives of three Britt employees. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) was unable to identify a definitive cause but observed unauthorized wiring within the wreckage. The aircraft involved (N63Z) was completely destroyed.
• On September 11, 1991, an Embraer 120 Brasilia operated by Britt Airways as Continental Express Flight 2574 crashed while descending into Houston Intercontinental Airport following a flight from Laredo, Texas. This accident resulted in fourteen fatalities. The NTSB concluded that the accident was caused by an improperly secured horizontal stabilizer which failed during approach leading to a severe nose-down pitch and subsequent structural breakup.

See also

• List of defunct airlines of the United States

Bibliography

• Eastwood, Tony. Turboprop Airliner Production List. 1998. The Aviation Hobby Shop. .