Florida Express
| |||||||
| Founded | 24 January 1983 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commenced operations | 26 January 1984 | ||||||
| Ceased operations | 1988 | ||||||
| Operating bases | Orlando, Florida | ||||||
| Fleet size | 19 | ||||||
| Destinations | 14 | ||||||
| Headquarters | Orlando, Florida United States | ||||||
| Founder | Gordon Linkon (CEO) | ||||||
| Employees | 385 (1985) | ||||||
Florida Express was an airline headquartered in Orlando, Florida, United States. Orlando International Airport (MCO) served as the airline's hub with a point-to-point linear route system in the eastern U.S. and Florida. Established in 1984,[3] the air carrier operated a small fleet consisting exclusively of British Aircraft Corporation BAC One-Eleven twin jet aircraft and employed approximately 385 employees in 1985.[4] It was incorporated in Delaware on January 24, 1983[5] and received its economic certificate from the Civil Aeronautics Board exactly a year later on January 24, 1984.[6] First flight was January 26, 1984 and it was co-founded and led by Gordon Linkon, a former Midway Airlines president and Frontier Airlines executive.[7] The airline completed an initial public offering on October 16, 1985, raising $13mm.[8] The airline's toll-free phone number was 1-800-FAST-JET.[9]
On October 28, 1987, the second incarnation of Braniff announced its acquisition of Florida Express in a deal worth $20mm (over $50mm in 2024 dollars).[10] After government approvals, the deal closed on April 19, 1988.[11] However, before the deal closed, from January 15, 1988 onward, Florida Express flew for Braniff under the name Braniff Express.[12]
Fleet
[edit | edit source]1987-88 World Airline Fleets (copyright 1987) lists the Florida Express fleet as follows:[1]
- 6 BAC 1-11-201AC
- 9 BAC 1-11-203AE
- 3 BAC 1-11-401AK
- 1 BAC 1-11-414AE
The 203AE series aircraft were originally delivered to Braniff International Airways,[13] the US trunk carrier that ceased operation in 1982, a separate but related carrier from the Braniff that bought Florida Express.
Destinations
[edit | edit source]As of January 1984:[14]
- Florida
- Fort Lauderdale (FLL)
- Miami (MIA)
- Orlando (MCO - Hub)
- Tampa (TPA)
- Indiana
- Indianapolis (IND)
- Kentucky
- Louisville (SDF)
- Tennessee
- Nashville (BNA)
- Virginia
As of April 1986:[15]
- Alabama
- Birmingham (BHM)
- Florida
- Fort Lauderdale (FLL)
- Miami (MIA)
- Orlando (MCO - Hub)
- St. Petersburg/Clearwater/Tampa (PIE)
- West Palm Beach (PBI)
- Indiana
- Indianapolis (IND)
- Kentucky
- Cincinnati, Ohio (CVG)
- Louisville (SDF)
- Louisiana
- New Orleans (MSY)
- Ohio (for Cincinnati, see Kentucky)
- Columbus (CMH)
- Pennsylvania
- Harrisburg (MDT)
- Tennessee
See also
[edit | edit source]References
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- ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ "World Airline Directory." Flight International. March 30, 1985. 78." Retrieved on June 17, 2009.
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Florida Express From the Ground Up, Orlando Sentinel, July 9, 1984
- ^ Florida Express stock stale misses target by $3 million, Orlando Sentinel, October 17, 1985
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Braniff, Florida Express announce merger plans, Orlando Sentinel, October 29, 1987
- ^ Florida Express no more - It's Braniff from now on, Orlando Sentinel, April 20, 1988
- ^ Braniff, Florida Express have a date at the altar, Palm Beach Post, April 18, 1988
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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External links
[edit | edit source]- Florida Express BAC-1-11 photo: Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- Florida Express TV commercial: Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- braniffinternational.com Official Company Website
- Braniff Boutique Official Company Store
- Braniff Airways Foundation
- Braniff Flying Colors Historical Page
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