Air Choice One

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Air Choice One
IATA ICAO Call sign
3E ACO WEBER
Founded1979; 47 years ago (1979)
(as Multi-Aero Corporation)
Commenced operations2010; 16 years ago (2010)
Ceased operations2022; 4 years ago (2022)
AOC #MUIA594G
Hubs
Frequent-flyer programChoice Plus
Fleet size3
Destinations3
Parent companySouthern Airways Corporation
Multi-Aero, Inc.
HeadquartersSt. Louis, Missouri United States
Key peopleShane Storz (President)
Employees25 (13 pilots)
Websiteairchoiceone.com

Multi-Aero, Inc., doing business as Air Choice One, a division of Southern Airways Corporation, was an American commuter airline with its headquarters in Concord, Missouri, within the Greater St. Louis area.[1] It operated as a regional airline offering commuter flights from St. Louis Lambert International Airport to smaller regional airports, subsidized under the Essential Air Service program.[2] Air Choice One's callsign, "Weber," is in honor of Mike Weber, the airline's first Chief Pilot.

History

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Multi-Aero was founded in 1979 under the name Multi-Aero Corporation.[3] In October 2009, Air Choice One won the EAS contract to serve Decatur, Illinois,[4] and Burlington, Iowa.[5]

Air Choice One was awarded its first EAS contract to replace[6] SeaPort Airlines in Jonesboro, Arkansas in December 2011.[7] In January 2013, the DOT granted Air Choice One a three-year contract extension for both Decatur, Illinois,[8] and Burlington, Iowa.[9] As a stipulation for obtaining both extensions, Air Choice One implemented systems for electronic ticketing and baggage agreements via WorldSpan (a part of the global distribution system, or GDS) in December 2012.[8] This allows passengers to book tickets with connections to and from other major airlines on popular travel websites in a "one-click" process, as opposed to buying tickets at one airline and then having to book tickets with another on two separate confirmations.

On December 21, 2017, Air Choice One was granted a four-year contract extension in Burlington, Iowa, and was not selected for another term in Decatur, marking the end of Air Choice One's nearly eight years of service to Decatur Airport.[10]

On March 14, 2018, the airline passed the FAA mandated proving runs with its Beechcraft 1900C, meaning that the aircraft is now approved to be used in daily line operations. Air Choice One began operating the aircraft between Fort Dodge, Iowa and both Minneapolis and St. Louis in May 2018 and continues to bid on other essential air service routes proposing to use the Beechcraft 1900.

Effective February 1, 2019, the 3-letter ICAO prefix changed from WBR to ACO.[11] In March 2019, the airline started utilizing InteliSys' ameliaRES reservation system. This system provides Passenger Service System (PSS) and departure control systems (DCS), reservation management, codeshare, interline and real-time inventory control.[12]

Air Choice One began a new frequent flyer program in early 2020 named Choice Plus. Customers can earn points from flying and redeem them on future flights. The airline does not participate in any significant global airline alliances, nor does it have any codeshare agreements. Also, in early 2020, the airline added the ability for web check-in and mobile compatibility for passengers.[13]

Air Choice One has flown cargo seasonally during peak season for United Parcel Service from Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport, Raleigh–Durham International Airport and Manchester-Boston Regional Airport.[14][15][16]

In March 2021, Air Choice One fully integrated TSA PreCheck into their customer booking experience, allowing passengers to use a Known Traveler Number (KTN) for expedited and simplified security screening.[17]

In August 2021, the Burlington airport board voted to recommend Cape Air to take over the EAS contract for Burlington, IA.[18] In September 2021 the Jonesboro airport board voted to recommend to keep Air Choice One in JBR with the possibility of two destinations, St. Louis as well as adding Nashville service. In December 2021 the DOT granted a four-year contract extension and approved the new Nashville service which started March 1, 2022.[19]

On March 28, 2022, it was announced that Air Choice One would be bought by the Southern Airways Corporation, the parent company of Southern Airways Express. It was initially planned that the two air operator certificates would be kept separate.[20]

On July 2, 2022, Southern Airways Corporation closed the Air Choice One website and decided to discontinue the Air Choice One service, bringing the company's aircraft and operations to the SAC operator certificate. All remaining flights were transferred to the Southern Airways Express brand.

Destinations

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City Airport IATA code Destinations Notes
Error creating thumbnail: Arkansas
Jonesboro Jonesboro Municipal Airport JBR St. Louis
Nashville[21] 		EAS Community | Community will be branded as Southern by mid-summer 2022[22]
Missouri Missouri
St. Louis St. Louis Lambert International Airport STL Jonesboro Hub
Tennessee Tennessee
Nashville Nashville International Airport BNA Jonesboro

Former Destinations

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City Airport IATA code Destinations Notes
Florida Florida
Destin Destin Executive Airport DTS Jackson Seasonal
Georgia (U.S. state) Georgia
Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport ATL Jackson
Illinois Illinois
Chicago O'Hare International Airport ORD Burlington
Decatur Decatur Airport DEC Chicago O'Hare
St. Louis 		EAS Community | Contract awarded to Cape Air
Iowa Iowa
Burlington Southeast Iowa Regional Airport BRL Chicago O'Hare
St. Louis 		EAS Community | Cape Air awarded contract
Fort Dodge Fort Dodge Regional Airport FOD Mason City
Minneapolis
St. Louis 		EAS Community | SkyWest Airlines awarded contract

[23]

Mason City Mason City Municipal Airport MCW Burlington
Minneapolis
Chicago O'Hare 		EAS Community | SkyWest Airlines awarded contract

[24]

Michigan Michigan
Ironwood Gogebic-Iron County Airport IWD Chicago O'Hare
Minneapolis 		EAS Community | Boutique Air awarded contract
Minnesota Minnesota
Minneapolis Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport MSP Fort Dodge
Ironwood
Mason City
Missouri Missouri
Kirksville Kirksville Airport STL St. Louis EAS Community | Cape Air awarded contract
Tennessee Tennessee
Jackson McKellar-Sipes Regional Airport MKL Atlanta
Destin
St. Louis 		EAS Community | Boutique Air awarded contract

Fleet

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File:Air Choice One - Cessna Caravan 208B EX.jpg
Air Choice One Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX
File:Air Choice One - Hangar Ramp Aircraft.jpg
Three Air Choice One aircraft on their hangar's ramp at STL

Prior to closure, Air Choice One operated the following aircraft:[25]

Air Choice One fleet
Aircraft In fleet Orders Passengers Notes
Beechcraft 1900C 1 0 9 Currently configured for 9 with intent for 19 upon FAA approval expected Q2 2022
Cessna 208B Grand Caravan 2 0 8 Two aircraft have the ability to be converted to all-cargo configuration.
Total 3 0

At the peak of Air Choice One's operation they operated 12 Cessna 208B (N732MD, N1983X, N1258B, N4118K, N208EE, N750Z, N803F, N107KA, N942AC, N943AC, N91AC, N958AC) and 1 Beechcraft 1900C (N165LC) aircraft.

Choice Plus

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Air Choice One had a frequent flyer program called Choice Plus. Customers that sign up for the program could earn points on every Air Choice One flight when they enter their rewards number. Depending on the fare chosen, a different percentage of points would be applied.[26]

  • Business Fare - 100%
  • Everyday - 60%

For every dollar spent, one point is earned. These points would expire after two years.

References

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  1. ^ "Facebook - Info.". Retrieved on July 19, 2011. "12300 Old Tesson Road Suite 200-F St. Louis 63128"
  2. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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  4. ^ Freeman, Huey. Decatur a step closer to restoring air service to O'Hare, Herald & Review, October 23, 2009, Retrieved 2009-10-23
  5. ^ Crippes, Christina Regional airport gets choice of new carrier, The Hawk Eye, October 23, 2009, Retrieved 2009-10-27
  6. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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  8. ^ a b Voyles, Ryan Way cleared for Air Choice One to serve Decatur for three more years, Herald Review, January 8, 2013, Retrieved 2013-02-24
  9. ^ Air Choice One has been granted a three-year extension to its current Department of Transportation Essential Air Service Contract which provides air service for the community of Burlington[permanent dead link], Fort Madison Daily Democrat, January 11, 2013, Retrieved 2013-02-24
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