Airlines of North America
The airline industry is in a constant state of flux. In 2005, Trans Meridian Airlines quit doing business while EOS Airlines and Maxjet Airways took to the skies. By early 2006, Independence Air quit flying and Virgin America announced that they were seeking U.S. government approval in hopes of taking their first flight. Beyond the U.S. borders, the Mexican airline industry is in the process of being revolutionized as the Mexican government divests itself of interest in two leading carriers. With this particular decision a handful of new carriers are set to take off south of the U.S. border. To keep track of the all the changes involves a ton of work, but I’ve done the hard work for you. The following list contains all of the current airlines serving the Canada, the United States, and Mexico. Stay tuned…more air carriers are certain to follow while some existing carriers may call it quits!
How many names do you recognize? Some carriers are strictly charter operators while others fly regionally. Still others are very small operators of Cessna aircraft, not what you might consider “airline” aircraft, but in the eyes of the Federal Aviation Administration they are:
• Aeromexico
• Air Canada
• Air Labrador
• Air Transat
• AirTran Airways
• Alaska Airlines
• Allegiant Air
• Aloha Airlines
• American Airlines
• ATA
• Avolar Aerolíneas
• Big Sky Airlines
• Cape Air
• Chautauqua Airlines
• Continental Airlines
• Delta Airlines
• EOS Airlines
• Frontier Airlines
• Gulfstream Int’l Airlines
• Hawaiian Airlines
• JetBlue Airways
• Maxjet Airways
• Mesa Air Group
• Mexicana Airlines
• Miami Air Int’l
• Midwest Airlines
• North American Airlines
• Northwest Airlines
• Pace Airlines
• Pen Air
• Primaris Airlines
• Ryan Int’l Airlines
• Shuttle America
• Simmons Air
• Song
• Southwest Airlines
• Spirit Airlines
• Sun Country Airlines
• Ted
• United Airlines
• USA 3000 Airlines
• USAirways
• WestJet Airlines
• World Airways
To keep the list simple, cargo carriers were omitted. Otherwise, operators such as UPS, Kalitta Air, and Emery would have been included.
Contact the carriers directly to find out what schedules they are keeping and airfare information. Perhaps you’ll find a “bargain” in the crowd and be able to try out an all new carrier.