Chicago Air
Encyclopedia
Chicago Air was a regional airline
carrier that operated in 1986 and exchanged passengers with all-jet Midway Airlines at Chicago Midway International Airport. The carrier operated revenue service from May to November, 1986 between Chicago and Madison, Green Bay, LaCrosse, Eau Claire, and Wausau, WI; Traverse City, MI; and, Peoria, Springfield and Quad Cities, IL. It operated six Fokker F27
aircraft, and the call sign was "Wild Onion" in reference to the Chippewa Indian derivation of the name "Chicago." The Fokker aircraft were subleased from Midstate Airlines
of Stevens Point, Wisconsin, which also performed contract maintenance work on the aircraft.
Chicago Air had been working closely for two years with Saab Aircraft of Linköping, Sweden to acquire initially 10 Saab SF-340
turboprop
commuter aircraft
, which would have begun delivery in 1987 enabling expansion of services to Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and Waterloo, IA; South Bend, Ft. Wayne, Lafayette, and Evansville, IN; and Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids, MI. Chicago Air held a further option for 16 of the SF-340 aircraft, which would have enabled the carrier to expand services to additional markets in Michigan, Ohio, Missouri and Minnesota.
In addition to its low-fare cachet and connections at convenient Midway Airport, Chicago Air introduced several important service improvements to the regional airline industry, including quality meal services, premium beer wine and cocktails, and improved in-flight amenities.
The introduction of non-refundable fares by all competitive carriers during the summer season of 1986 made the Chicago Air venture a short-lived enterprise, and it ceased service in November, 1986. Midstate Airlines
discontinued the subleasing agreement with Chicago Air of the F-27 aircraft, as well as use of the maintenance facilities. Soon after, Midway Airlines launched the successful regional "Midway Connection" service operated by Fischer Brothers Aviation with the Fairchild-Dornier 228, proving that a feeder network to Midway Airport was a viable idea.
The legacy of Midway Airlines, Chicago Air, and Midway Connection can be seen today by any visitor to Midway Airport. These carriers pioneered the concept that Midway could be a vital and important link in the Chicago and national transportation networks.
The airline was led by Neal F. Meehan (President), former president of Continental Express
Airlines and of New York Air
; and by J. Scott Christian (Executive V.P.), a former senior manager at Continental Airlines
; Booz Allen Hamilton
; and New York Air
. Meehan and Christian together controlled 50 percent of the carrier's voting stock, with the remaining shares held mostly by a small group of Chicago area investors.
Regional airline
Regional airlines are airlines that operate regional aircraft to provide passenger air service to communities without sufficient demand to attract mainline service...
carrier that operated in 1986 and exchanged passengers with all-jet Midway Airlines at Chicago Midway International Airport. The carrier operated revenue service from May to November, 1986 between Chicago and Madison, Green Bay, LaCrosse, Eau Claire, and Wausau, WI; Traverse City, MI; and, Peoria, Springfield and Quad Cities, IL. It operated six Fokker F27
Fokker F27
The Fokker F27 Friendship is a turboprop airliner designed and built by the Dutch aircraft manufacturer Fokker.-Design and development:Design of the Fokker F27 started in the 1950s as a replacement to the successful Douglas DC-3 airliner...
aircraft, and the call sign was "Wild Onion" in reference to the Chippewa Indian derivation of the name "Chicago." The Fokker aircraft were subleased from Midstate Airlines
Midstate Airlines
Midstate Airlines of Stevens Point, Wisconsin, ,was founded by Roy P. Shwery in 1964 and provided air service out of Marshfield , Wisconsin , and Central Wisconsin Airport . The airline originally operated a fleet of Beechcraft Model 18 aircraft, and later, four Beech 99's...
of Stevens Point, Wisconsin, which also performed contract maintenance work on the aircraft.
Chicago Air had been working closely for two years with Saab Aircraft of Linköping, Sweden to acquire initially 10 Saab SF-340
Saab 340
The Saab 340 is a discontinued Swedish two-engine turboprop aircraft designed and initially produced by a partnership between Saab and Fairchild Aircraft in a 65:35 ratio...
turboprop
Turboprop
A turboprop engine is a type of turbine engine which drives an aircraft propeller using a reduction gear.The gas turbine is designed specifically for this application, with almost all of its output being used to drive the propeller...
commuter aircraft
Aircraft
An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air, or, in general, the atmosphere of a planet. An aircraft counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines.Although...
, which would have begun delivery in 1987 enabling expansion of services to Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and Waterloo, IA; South Bend, Ft. Wayne, Lafayette, and Evansville, IN; and Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids, MI. Chicago Air held a further option for 16 of the SF-340 aircraft, which would have enabled the carrier to expand services to additional markets in Michigan, Ohio, Missouri and Minnesota.
In addition to its low-fare cachet and connections at convenient Midway Airport, Chicago Air introduced several important service improvements to the regional airline industry, including quality meal services, premium beer wine and cocktails, and improved in-flight amenities.
The introduction of non-refundable fares by all competitive carriers during the summer season of 1986 made the Chicago Air venture a short-lived enterprise, and it ceased service in November, 1986. Midstate Airlines
Midstate Airlines
Midstate Airlines of Stevens Point, Wisconsin, ,was founded by Roy P. Shwery in 1964 and provided air service out of Marshfield , Wisconsin , and Central Wisconsin Airport . The airline originally operated a fleet of Beechcraft Model 18 aircraft, and later, four Beech 99's...
discontinued the subleasing agreement with Chicago Air of the F-27 aircraft, as well as use of the maintenance facilities. Soon after, Midway Airlines launched the successful regional "Midway Connection" service operated by Fischer Brothers Aviation with the Fairchild-Dornier 228, proving that a feeder network to Midway Airport was a viable idea.
The legacy of Midway Airlines, Chicago Air, and Midway Connection can be seen today by any visitor to Midway Airport. These carriers pioneered the concept that Midway could be a vital and important link in the Chicago and national transportation networks.
The airline was led by Neal F. Meehan (President), former president of Continental Express
Continental Express
Continental Express is the operating brand name used by a number of independently owned regional airlines providing regional jet feeder service under agreement with Continental Airlines...
Airlines and of New York Air
New York Air
New York Air was a 1980s startup airline owned by Texas Air Corporation and based at LaGuardia Airport in Flushing, Queens, New York City.-History:...
; and by J. Scott Christian (Executive V.P.), a former senior manager at Continental Airlines
Continental Airlines
Continental Airlines was a major American airline now merged with United Airlines. On May 3, 2010, Continental Airlines, Inc. and UAL, Inc. announced a merger via a stock swap, and on October 1, 2010, the merger closed and UAL changed its name to United Continental Holdings, Inc...
; Booz Allen Hamilton
Booz Allen Hamilton
Booz Allen Hamilton Inc. , or more commonly Booz Allen, is an American public consulting firm headquartered in McLean, Fairfax County, Virginia, with 80 other offices throughout the United States. Ralph Shrader is its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. The firm was founded by Edwin Booz in...
; and New York Air
New York Air
New York Air was a 1980s startup airline owned by Texas Air Corporation and based at LaGuardia Airport in Flushing, Queens, New York City.-History:...
. Meehan and Christian together controlled 50 percent of the carrier's voting stock, with the remaining shares held mostly by a small group of Chicago area investors.