CommuteAir
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Airline |
| Founded | 1989 |
| Headquarters | North Olmsted, Ohio , United States |
Area served | United States, Mexico |
| Products | Regional airline services |
CommuteAir is a regional airline based in the United States, established in 1989. It operates more than 1,600 flights weekly exclusively under the United Express brand, connecting over 75 destinations within the U.S. and three locations in Mexico. The airline's fleet consists of Embraer ERJ 145 jets, with main operational bases at Washington Dulles International Airport and George Bush Intercontinental Airport. In July 2022, the company updated its branding from CommutAir to CommuteAir.
History
Operations commenced on August 1, 1989, with headquarters located at Clinton County Airport, New York. Initially, the airline functioned as a marketing partner for US Airways. After an unsuccessful contract renewal with US Airways in late 2000, CommuteAir realigned its partnership to Continental Airlines. By early 2002, it had established a "micro-hub" in Albany, offering service to 21 cities throughout the Northeast and Canada using a fleet of Beechcraft 1900 aircraft.
In 2003, the airline broadened its network by supporting Continental’s hub in Cleveland, expanding service to 12 cities by August of that year. In 2006, CommuteAir leased sixteen Bombardier Q200 turboprop aircraft from Horizon Air and completed the phase-out of Beechcraft planes by 2007. Following the closure of Clinton County Airport in October 2007, operations were relocated to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.
Amid industry shifts in October 2008, CommuteAir initiated flights from Newark Liberty International Airport. That same year, its pilots unionized under the Air Line Pilots Association. However, Continental’s reduction in flights during 2008 resulted in diminished Cleveland operations for CommuteAir.
Following the merger of United and Continental Airlines in 2010, CommuteAir transitioned into a United Express carrier. It incorporated five Bombardier Q300 turboprops distributed between hubs in Cleveland and Newark. A new hub was launched at Washington-Dulles International Airport in 2012.
After United closed its Cleveland hub in July 2014, CommuteAir ceased pilot and maintenance operations there and shifted maintenance activities to Albany. In November 2015, the airline announced plans to grow its United Express service by adding Embraer ERJ 145 jets alongside its existing turboprop fleet.
Service with ERJ 145 jets began in July 2016 on routes from Washington to Columbia, South Carolina. By September 2017 and January 2018, all turboprop aircraft had been retired as the airline fully transitioned to a jet-only fleet.
In July 2020, United Airlines ended its contract with ExpressJet and transferred exclusive ERJ 145 operations to CommuteAir. The airline expanded its presence at United’s Houston hub in September 2020 and resumed flights from Denver in March 2021 before closing Denver bases in May 2024 to concentrate operations at Houston and Washington-Dulles.
In January 2023, a cybersecurity incident exposed flight schedules and employee information. On May 19, 2025, CommuteAir declared plans to shut down its Lincoln Airport base effective July 18 as part of ongoing operational consolidation.
Destinations
Crew locations
- Washington, D.C. / Northern Virginia area - Washington Dulles International Airport
- Houston, Texas region - George Bush Intercontinental Airport
Maintenance facilities
- Albany, New York region - Albany International Airport
- Houston, Texas area - George Bush Intercontinental Airport
- Knoxville, Tennessee vicinity - McGhee Tyson Airport
- Washington, D.C. / Northern Virginia region - Washington Dulles International Airport
Aircraft fleet
As of February 2025, the CommuteAir fleet consists of:
| Model | In Service | Seating Capacity | Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Embraer ERJ 145 | 64 | 50 | United Express | |
| Embraer 170 | 1 | 76 | CommuteAir | |
| Total | 65 | — | ||
The average age of the fleet as of January 2020 was 15.2 years.
Previous fleet
CommuteAir formerly operated an exclusive fleet of Beechcraft 1900 aircraft for US Airways Express and subsequently for Continental Connection. On January 7, 2018, the airline conducted the last turboprop flight for United Express, signifying a transition to a fully jet-powered fleet. This final flight (UCA4909), connecting Syracuse Airport and Dulles Airport, was flown by aircraft tail number N363PH.
Aircraft types previously operated include:
CommutAir Flight 4821
On January 3, 1992, CommutAir Flight 4821, a Beechcraft 1900C flying under USAir Express, impacted a forested mountain slope during its approach to Adirondack Regional Airport. Of the four individuals aboard, two lost their lives while two sustained serious injuries. The accident investigation determined pilot error in maintaining a stabilized approach and inadequate instrument cross-checking as primary causes, exacerbated by adverse weather and potential precipitation static interference resulting from insufficient grounding that affected glide slope signals.
CommutAir Flight 4933
On March 4, 2019, CommutAir Flight 4933, operating as United Express, veered off the runway on its second landing attempt at Presque Isle International Airport. The left main landing gear detached and became lodged in the rear engine, leading to a total loss of the aircraft. All passengers and crew evacuated safely; four individuals received treatment for minor injuries.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) attributed the incident to confirmation bias, where pilots descended without visual contact with the runway amid snowy conditions. Additional contributing factors included suboptimal decision-making by the captain, fatigue affecting the first officer, and localizer misalignment caused by snow accumulation. The NTSB also criticized CommutAir’s training procedures, highlighting prior training failures and disciplinary concerns involving the captain. Moreover, at least six flight crews had detected localizer misalignment before this event but did not report it under the airline’s safety reporting system; one crew did notify the FAA, yet no NOTAM was issued due to regulatory requirements mandating multiple reports.
See also
External links
- Articles with short description
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- Regional Airline Association members
- Transportation in Cuyahoga County, Ohio
- Airlines established in 1989
- American companies established in 1989
- Regional airlines of the United States
- Airlines based in Ohio
- 1989 establishments in New York (state)
- North Olmsted, Ohio
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- Companies of the United States by year of establishment