A Sight No More: ExpressJet Airlines & "aha!"

Today, "aha!" Airlines along with its parent company ExpressJet Airlines filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and ceased all operations. While Chapter 11 bankruptcy is typically used as legal protection in order to restructure, the airline has intended to liquidate its assets.

This is unfortunate, but not surprising news, considering that since resuming operations as an independent niche carrier after losing it's last CPA contract with United in 2020, ExpressJet's "Aha!" branded operations in reality, hasn't appeared viable, based on load factors and the inability to roll out the air-hotel-adventure vacation packages that was to be the foundation of it's business model (much like Allegiant scaled down); as a result, the airline has been facing lower-than-expected revenues. Passenger complaints about how disorganized the operation has been has done nothing more but tarnish the airline's reputation. The ongoing repercussions from the COVID-19 pandemic (especially from its variants) as well as the high-cost of jet fuel were likely contributing factors.

Again, unfortunate news because you feel for the employees who lost their jobs. Unfortunate because this particular operation hasn't even lasted a year. On paper, the ExpressJet's "aha!" business model looked like a good idea. Reality however, showed otherwise. And I was certainly rooting for them because they were underdogs, but I too had doubts regarding the viability of ExpressJet's "Aha!" branded operations; with very thin markets of the routes they operated and the high-cost equipment they flew, it seemed blatantly obvious that this was a weak business model.

So this is the end of a storied regional airline name. With only a handful of jets in their fleet since resuming operations and having continuously operated into Eugene, Oregon from launch to shutdown, I was fortunate to have been able to photograph all of their ERJ-145s when the opportunity permitted. With that, here's a photo montage:

Embraer EMB-145LR ERJ-145LR (N844HK) on the inaugural flight to Eugene.

N844HK receiving the water cannon salute. All ERJ-145s ExpressJet operated as part of their "Aha!" operations were former Trans States Airlines frames.

N844HK airborne on the inaugural departure out of Eugene. The first day of flights was a rather dreary day...

Embraer EMB-145LR ERJ-145LR (N846HK), the only airframe that wore the complete "aha!" livery shown on the renderings.

In many of the destinations it served, ExpressJet's "Aha!" branded operations flew 2-3 times weekly.

Embraer EMB-145LR ERJ-145LR (N843HK). This airframe clearly had a bit of an identity crisis as it never even received any livery.

Clearly, this airframe was rushed into service so the airline didn't have time to get it painted.

On the left side of the fuselage, it's quite evident who the previous operator of this frame was!

After United transferred all the ERJ-145XLRs ExpressJet used to operate on their behalf, they picked up these second-hand ERJ-145LRs previously operated by Trans States Airlines and these airframes were probably some of the oldest ERJ-145s in operation.

Catching N844HK in more ideal weather conditions compared to their inaugural flights in and out of Eugene.

Upon resuming operations independently for the final time, ExpressJet maintained one airframe bearing the ExpressJet logo.

Embraer EMB-145LR ERJ-145LR (N839HK). This was the other airframe to sport the "Aha!" logo, but still retained the partial livery/cheatline of United Express back when it was operated by Trans States Airlines.

The airframe spent most of the winter and spring this year operating college sports charter flights out east prior to returning to scheduled passenger service (needless to say, I caught this airframe just in time!).

In total, ExpressJet's "Aha!" operations flew to 12 destinations from their Reno hub. It's too bad they weren't able to make things work out...

With that, a storied airline name, once the largest operator of the ERJ-145 comes to a rather unspectacular and unclimactic end. One of three new airline brands that started up in 2021, "Aha!" would be the one to go belly-up. I wish the employees and flight crews of ExpressJet the best of luck in securing other employment.

Gallery Update: FINALLY Catching an Air Canada A220!

I never expected Air Canada to give me so much grief in my attempts at spotting one of their Airbus A220-300s at PDX!

Two months ago, I tried to catch their inaugural arrival into PDX, which I never got to see because the inbound flight was late. I hoped it would be a one-time occurrence, but much to my disappointment, Air Canada's inbound flight from Toronto has been chronically late ever since (trends on FlightAware and FlightRadar24 confirms that!). I decided to switch it up and look at their morning departures instead. While not flying daily like before COVID times, they are still keeping the plane and crew overnight at PDX before returning to Toronto until the following morning. And thankfully, the trends showed that the return trips to their Toronto hub have been relatively on time, so I decided to make a quick spotting trip just to catch Air Canada's Airbus A220-300.

I didn't stick around too long because my preferred spotting area on the top level of the short-term parking garage was inaccessible due to construction activity that's revamping Portland International Airport, so I spotted one floor below from my usual spot. I have a feeling I won't be spotting at PDX for a little while after this...

Portland (PDX)

Preview:

Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-7H4 (N278WN) airborne off 28R as SWA3957 for Denver.

United Airlines Boeing 737-924/ER (N69819) taxiing for departure as UAL2151 for Denver.

UAL215 departing on 28R for Denver.

Delta Air Lines Boeing 737-832 (N388DA) arriving on 28R as DAL1440 from Los Angeles.

Air Canada Airbus A220-300 (C-GNGV) taxiing for departure as ACA508 for Toronto-Pearson. Finally, my first time photographing Air Canada's A220!

Arrived over two hours late last night from Toronto as ACA513.

Air Canada officially resumed seasonal mainline flights between Toronto and Portland on June 7 last month. However, unlike previous years, the flights aren't daily but rather thrice-weekly.

It has not been a good year for this route in particular and for Air Canada as a whole. The arriving flight has been chronically late (hence the reason why I've struggled to catch the arriving flights!), air travel on Canadian carriers has been expensive overall, and Air Canada has been struggling with staffing issues, which has resulted in poor customer service and numerous complaints and bad PR!

Air Canada took delivery of their first A220-300 in late-2019.

ACA508 departing on 28R for Toronto-Pearson.

This occasion also marks the first time I've photographed the new Air Canada livery on a mainline aircraft.

The A220 definitely complements the Air Canada fleet well in terms of fuel efficiency on short-haul domestic, transcontinental, and even some international flights. And it's the ideal fit for thinner routes like the one between Portland and Toronto. Plus, it's Canadian-made and designed, so it only makes sense that Canada's flag carrier adopt an aircraft type that was designed and manufactured in their home country. 

While nothing is confirmed, there are rumors going around that Air Canada is considering adding seasonal flights between Portland and Montréal–Trudeau.

Hopefully, Air Canada can get over their current troubles and restore their reputation.