Gallery Update: ExpressJet/Aha! Airlines Inaugural at Eugene

A little over a year ago on September 30, 2020, ExpressJet Airlines, a former regional powerhouse that flew under the American Eagle, Delta Connection, and United Express brands at various points in its history ceased operations as a connection carrier.

Due to the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic had on aviation (I know, I'm getting sick of referring to it!) and citing low travel demand, United Airlines (the last capacity purchase agreement partner ExpressJet had at the time and a minority shareholder of the latter) announced on July 30, 2020 that they would end their contract with ExpressJet as part of consolidation of the United Express regional fleet and transfer the bulk of their ERJ-145 fleet to CommutAir, another regional carrier that flew for United under the United Express brand; CommutAir became the sole-ERJ-145 operator for the United Express brand. And with no mainline partner, ExpressJet became another aviation casualty as result of the decimation in air travel demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic following their final revenue flight on the behalf of United Express from Memphis to Houston on September 30, 2020. Or so we thought.

Rather than throw in the towel, ExpressJet returned to it's roots of operating independent point-to-point routes much like what they did in the 2000s after being spun off from their days with Continental Airlines. The revamped ExpressJet business model would focus on underserved small and medium cities and communities that have lost or seen reduction in service as a result of airline consolidations and mergers over the years as well as recent repercussions from the pandemic and target COVID-weary passengers wanting to travel shorter routes on non-stop itineraries. The airline officially filed with the U.S. Department of Transportation to resume commercial operations under its own brand in April of this year with tentative and later official approval received this past summer. And with some irony, ExpressJet officially resumed operations under it's own name on a revenue flight under a sports charter on September 30, 2021, exactly one year after ceasing operations as a United Express carrier.

One day later, ExpressJet launched "aha!," their leisure travel brand that is to based at Reno-Tahoe International Airport, with flights throughout the west coast. This will be ExpressJet's second attempt at independent operations under their own branding. The "aha!" brand stands for "air-hotel-adventure," referring to the company's plan to partner up with resorts, casinos, and attractions in and around the Reno-area as well as the Lake Tahoe region. ExpressJet fully intends to offer "bundled" value-priced vacation packages, similar to what Allegiant Air does (albeit on a much smaller scale for now). Reno definitely seems like an ideal place to start for ExpressJet and "aha!," considering the casinos, resorts, dining options, and attractions in and around the area, not to mention the various annual events that take place there. If the airline plays their cards right, they can do really well for themselves.

Regular "Aha!" Airlines service began on October 24, 2021 with a thrice-weekly service from between Reno and Pasco, Washington. And today, ExpressJet inaugurated their "Aha" service to Eugene, hence the reason for this rainy spotting trip.

Eugene (EUG) 7

Preview:

SkyWest Airlines (d/b/a United Express) Bombardier CL-600-2B19 CRJ-200ER (N909EV) airborne off 16R as SKW5838 for San Francisco. Ironically, this CRJ-200 previously flew for ExpressJet under the American Eagle brand.

ExpressJet Airlines Embraer EMB-145LR ERJ-145LR (N844HK) clearing 16R after arriving as ASQ62T from Reno-Tahoe on the inaugural flight to Eugene on the behalf of their new "Aha!" brand.

Receiving the inaugural water cannon salute, even on a rainy day! Airframe formerly flew for the now-defunct Trans States Airline on the behalf of United Express. N844HK is also the first airframe ExpressJet acquired following the end of their CPA operations last year.

ExpressJet currently have three ERJ-145LRs in their fleet. Two of them are sporting the "aha!" logo, whereas N844HK just has the standard ExpressJet logo.

This is also my first time seeing a water cannon salute as part of an inaugural flight!

While the ERJ-145 is not the most ideal platform for a low-cost carrier focusing on leisure routes, low-ownership costs along with low flight frequencies should offset the high seat-mile costs ExpressJet would otherwise face in pursuing the business model they're doing.

You can still make out where the old Trans States Airlines (TSA) logo was adorned on the tail of this airframe.

Mesa Airlines (d/b/a American Eagle) Bombardier CL-600-2D24 CRJ-900ER (N948LR) arriving on 16R as ASH5996 from Phoenix Sky Harbor.

Only my second time seeing a CRJ-900 in the American Eagle livery.

ASH5996 clearing 16R. This airframe first flew for Air One CityLiner and later Alitalia CityLiner as EI-DVR.

ASH5996 taxiing to the gate.

ASH5996 parked at the gate.

Allegiant Air Airbus A319-112 (N302NV) sporting the Las Vegas Golden Knights livery arriving on 16R as AAY27 from Las Vegas. I was pleased to see this new special livery, which was unveiled in October 2019!

The Las Vegas Golden Knights (not to be confused with the U.S. Army Golden Knights parachute team!) is a NHL professional ice hockey team. The team is fairly new, having been founded as an expansion team in 2017. This NHL team became the first major sports franchise to represent Las Vegas.

The last time I saw this airframe was in 2016 back in Provo, Utah. It also sported the old standard livery.

SkyWest Airlines (d/b/a Delta Connection) Embraer ERJ-170-200LR E-175LR (N274SY) taxiing for departure as SKW3912 for Seattle-Tacoma.

AAY27 taxiing to the terminal. Being based in Las Vegas themselves, it would only seem natural that Allegiant would become the "Official Domestic Airline of the Vegas Golden Knights."

It's good to see that Allegiant has put on another new special livery in recent years.

Allegiant also has a Las Vegas Raiders special livery applied on one of their A319s, after the NFL team moved from Oakland to Vegas. I'll have to keep an eye out for that special as well!

AAY27 pulling up to the gate.

N844HK parked at the gate. Oddly enough, ExpressJet is using Alaska Airlines' gates typically used by the Dash 8s.

SkyWest Airlines (d/b/a Delta Connection) Embraer ERJ-170-200LR E-175LR (N610CZ) taxiing to the gate after arriving on 16R as SKW3576 from Salt Lake City. It's so weird to see a former Compass Airline bird operated by SkyWest! This is one of a handful of airframes Delta transferred over to SkyWest after Compass ceased operations last year due to the pandemic.

Hillsboro Aviation Raytheon B200 King Air (N515CK) airborne off 16R for Portland-Hillsboro.

ASH5996 airborne off 16R for the return-trip to Phoenix Sky Harbor.

N844HK taxiing for departure for the return trip to Reno-Tahoe as ASQ7063.

As expected, it's a quick turn-around for ExpressJet's "aha!" operations.

For now, like all of their other destinations, ExpressJet will serve Eugene three times per week.

ASQ7063 airborne off 16R. Must be a light load for it get airborne early. Hopefully, ExpressJet's new "Aha!" brand does well in the coming months.

Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-752 (N7847A) airborne off 16R as SWA379 for Las Vegas. Previously flew for Turkish Airlines as TC-JKJ.

NetJets Cessna 680A Citation Latitude (N641QS) taxiing to the FBO after arriving on 16R as EJA641 from Sun Valley, Idaho.

N302NV airborne off 16R as AAY218 for Orange County.

The lighting was terrible due to the weather, but it still did make for some interesting effects with all the water vapor in the air.

This airframe will return to Eugene later this afternoon from Orange County before ultimately ending the day back in Las Vegas.

The alternate colors sure do make a great contrast to the overcast skies!