ExpressJet is Off the Ground at LA/ONT

Inland Empire Business Journal, Oct 2007 by Lyons, Joe

It was barely more than six months ago when ExpressJet Airlines Chief Executive Officer Jim Ream stepped out of a jet at LA/Ontario International Airport to announced flight service beginning in April of 07. That was when the Inland Empire got its first look at the livery of ExpressJet, with the airline's new paint scheme and interior upgrades. The fleet of 50-seat Embraer ERJ-145 jets would soon fly from Los Angeles/Ontario, Sacramento, San Diego, Austin, Tucson, Spokane, San Antonio and New Orleans, to a growing list of cities. Ream had arrived here in Ontario to formally open ticket sales. ExpressJet was new, but definitely not a start-up.

"ExpressJet Airlines operated as one of the world's most reliable regional airlines for more than 10 years on behalf of Continental," Ream told the Business Journal. "Today, we are building on the foundation of our experience and strong base of relationships, to expand beyond our past. We are pleased to begin serving 24 cities under our own banner, as ExpressJet Airlines."

Ream said that ExpressJet Airlines planned to serve more than 150 destinations across the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean with world-class Continental Express service. ExpressJet's branded flying is concentrating on markets that are the right size for its 50-seat jets, with convenient airports, growing local economies and non-stop flights to the markets it now serves. "We are pleased to offer our brand of flying to more customers," Ream said on opening day. "ExpressJet is diversifying its services, but will not depart from the principles of customer service and reliability that allowed us to complete over 3 million departures in the past 10 years."

Since its inception, ExpressJet focused on efficiency, professionalism and running an exceptional regional jet service as Continental Express. Several of ExpressJet's executive management worked their way up as airline maintenance technicians and crew members learning the business from the inside. They concentrate intently on the details of running a successful operation. That focus has driven ExpressJet to continually find ways to streamline operations, as they did in 2002, retiring all turboprop aircraft to focus exclusively on a faster and smoother all jet fleet. Attention to detail also earned ExpressJet "Regional Airline of the Year" honors from Air Transport World.

With 75 percent of its all jet fleet committed to a capacity purchase agreement, allocating 25 percent into markets that offer more strategic control and a greater potential for future growth, is the right mix for ExpressJet. "We recognize that to operate at the level of service and financial performance that earned us a spot on Fortune Magazine's 'Most Admired Airlines' list two years running, we must diversify and expand our operations beyond an exclusive focus on Continental Express," Ream said.

Part of that diversification and expansion meant starting service under its own brand, deploying some of the youngest aircraft in the airline's current fleet. It included upgrading their in-flight service, with valet carry-on bag service; free XM(R) Satellite Radio; redesigned and more comfortable cushioned leather seats, and complimentary, recognized brand-name snacks, as well as full-service meal options on longer flights.

Another part involved turning inward-focused operations into moneymaking businesses serving third-party customers.

A wholly-owned subsidiary, ExpressJet Services, LLC, and Airlines' own Training Services division were certified by the Federal Aviation Administration, (FAA), allowing ExpressJet to provide maintenance and training to other airlines or aviation businesses.

"We have operated a first class maintenance organization since 1995, and maintained a fleet of 274 aircraft. That gave us a wealth of expertise that we thought would be valuable to customers ranging from a single, private-aircraft owner to an entire corporate or commercial fleet," Ream said.

Boasting one of the fastest and most consistent turnaround times in the industry, with a 99 percent maintenance reliability rating, helped ExpressJet Services attract new partners and new revenue streams. Soon after ExpressJet Services earned FAA certification to provide third-party services, three major European manufacturers of thrust reversers, nacelles and composite airline parts designated ExpressJet Services their North American maintenance repair partner.

Similarly, as ExpressJet grew rapidly in its first decade to operate a fleet of 274 aircraft, it trained more than 3,800 pilots, 3,000 flight attendants, 4,000 ground personnel and more than 1,800 maintenance technicians. Since starting up at LA/ONT it has generated nearly 800 new local jobs. "We knew what it took to have crews well trained and ready to go, because we were making that happen more than 1,300 times a day," Ream said. ExpressJet Training Services gained FAA certification to provide third-party training to the corporate and commercial aviation industry. It is also recognized by the American Society for Training and Development. Today the airline's flight simulators, automated classrooms and Cabin Emergency Evacuation Trainer deliver cutting-edge training to third-party customers as well as its own personnel.