JetAmerica
Encyclopedia
Sun America, Inc., d/b/a JetAmerica, was a proposed American
low-cost scheduled public charter airline
headquartered in unincorporated
Pinellas County
, Florida
. On March 10, 2009, the airline announced a number of public scheduled charter flights from underutilized airports to Newark and Minneapolis-St.Paul utilizing a Miami Air International
Boeing 737-800 slated to begin on June 30, 2009. On May 27, 2009, the airline held its first formal press conference at Toledo Express Airport
, OH announcing its first focus city and the start of flight operations on July 13, 2009. The airline formally announced the station markets of Lansing
, MI; Melbourne
, FL; Minneapolis, MN; Newark
, NJ; South Bend
, IN; and Toledo
, OH. The airline also publicly stated it is evaluating service to Baltimore
, MD; Charleston, WV; Chicago Midway, IL; Rockford
, IL; Cincinnati, Columbus
, and Dayton
, OH; Greensboro
, NC; Hartford
, CT; Pittsburgh, PA; and Clearwater
, FL. The airline later delayed the start of service to August 14, 2009. However, JetAmerica had yet to begin service as of August 2009, unable to finalize slots at Newark.
On July 18, 2009, the company announced that it was suspending its operations, and refunding the customers who had already bought tickets.
" of JetAmerica, is investor Steve Schoen who also was involved as a primary investor of the failed Southeast Airlines
; another low-cost carrier
which declined into bankruptcy
after concerns about improper record keeping and maintenance issues arose. Steve Schoen put up no money in this most recent business endeavor and was able to convince other investor
s to put up all the seed money for JetAmerica.
JetAmerica had planned to operate under the name Air Azul, but on May 4, 2009, the company changed its name to Jet America, citing internal changes including no longer being associated with Sun Country Airlines
. Concerns were addressed that its name was too similar to a Brazilian airline (Azul Brazilian Airlines
) started by former JetBlue founder, David Neeleman
. The company had since adopted the name and logo by the previous startup attempt let by John Weikle, who formerly was the founder of Skybus Airlines
.
The airline also had partnered with Locair
to provide Fairchild Metro service between Somerset, KY and Nashville,TN. This agreement however was terminated earlier in 2009 when the business plan was changed to the JetAmerica idea.
Air Azul originally planned flights to Newark
, Baltimore, and various midwestern cities. The Baltimore flights were dropped after Air Azul initially suspended flights in April 2009 and was renamed JetAmerica.
JetAmerica's proposed schedule included services to the following destinations in the United States:
Florida
Indiana
Michigan
Minnesota
New Jersey
Ohio
JetAmerica had announced plans to add a second Boeing 737-800 in July, and up to as many as four by July 2010. The company's business plan, as announced by Weikle, would have added an additional aircraft every four months.
When JetAmerica was known as Air Azul, their original plan was to operate flights with air crew and aircraft leased from Sun Country Airlines
using Boeing 737-800 with 12 first class seats and 150 coach seats, but financing and business plan changes altered this.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
low-cost scheduled public charter airline
Airline
An airline provides air transport services for traveling passengers and freight. Airlines lease or own their aircraft with which to supply these services and may form partnerships or alliances with other airlines for mutual benefit...
headquartered in unincorporated
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
Pinellas County
Pinellas County, Florida
Pinellas County is a county located in the state of Florida. Its county seat is Clearwater, Florida, and its largest city is St. Petersburg. This county is contained entirely within the telephone area code 727, except for some sections of Oldsmar, which have the area code 813...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. On March 10, 2009, the airline announced a number of public scheduled charter flights from underutilized airports to Newark and Minneapolis-St.Paul utilizing a Miami Air International
Miami Air International
Miami Air International is an American charter airline based in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. It operates worldwide passenger charter flights for diverse groups including cruise operators, professional sports teams and the United States military...
Boeing 737-800 slated to begin on June 30, 2009. On May 27, 2009, the airline held its first formal press conference at Toledo Express Airport
Toledo Express Airport
Toledo Express Airport is a passenger and cargo airport located 10 miles west of the city of Toledo in the extreme Western portion of Lucas County, Ohio, United States, near the border with Fulton County, in the townships of Swanton and Monclova. It is also a base for the Ohio Air National...
, OH announcing its first focus city and the start of flight operations on July 13, 2009. The airline formally announced the station markets of Lansing
Lansing, Michigan
Lansing is the capital of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located mostly in Ingham County, although small portions of the city extend into Eaton County. The 2010 Census places the city's population at 114,297, making it the fifth largest city in Michigan...
, MI; Melbourne
Melbourne, Florida
Melbourne is a city in Brevard County, Florida, United States. As of 2009, the population estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau is 78,323. The municipal area is the second largest by size and by population in the county. Melbourne is a principal city of the Palm Bay – Melbourne – Titusville, Florida...
, FL; Minneapolis, MN; Newark
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
, NJ; South Bend
South Bend, Indiana
The city of South Bend is the county seat of St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States, on the St. Joseph River near its southernmost bend, from which it derives its name. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total of 101,168 residents; its Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 316,663...
, IN; and Toledo
Toledo, Ohio
Toledo is the fourth most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Lucas County. Toledo is in northwest Ohio, on the western end of Lake Erie, and borders the State of Michigan...
, OH. The airline also publicly stated it is evaluating service to Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
, MD; Charleston, WV; Chicago Midway, IL; Rockford
Rockford, Illinois
Rockford is a mid-sized city located on both banks of the Rock River in far northern Illinois. Often referred to as "The Forest City", Rockford is the county seat of Winnebago County, Illinois, USA. As reported in the 2010 U.S. census, the city was home to 152,871 people, the third most populated...
, IL; Cincinnati, Columbus
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
, and Dayton
Dayton, Ohio
Dayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
, OH; Greensboro
Greensboro, North Carolina
Greensboro is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the third-largest city by population in North Carolina and the largest city in Guilford County and the surrounding Piedmont Triad metropolitan region. According to the 2010 U.S...
, NC; Hartford
Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
, CT; Pittsburgh, PA; and Clearwater
Clearwater, Florida
Clearwater is a city located in Pinellas County, Florida, US, nearly due west of Tampa and northwest of St. Petersburg. In the west of Clearwater lies the Gulf of Mexico and in the east lies Tampa Bay. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 108,787. It is the county seat of...
, FL. The airline later delayed the start of service to August 14, 2009. However, JetAmerica had yet to begin service as of August 2009, unable to finalize slots at Newark.
On July 18, 2009, the company announced that it was suspending its operations, and refunding the customers who had already bought tickets.
Original Idea – Air Azul
The chairman of Sun America, the "parent companyParent company
A parent company is a company that owns enough voting stock in another firm to control management and operations by influencing or electing its board of directors; the second company being deemed as a subsidiary of the parent company...
" of JetAmerica, is investor Steve Schoen who also was involved as a primary investor of the failed Southeast Airlines
Southeast Airlines
Southeast Airlines was a low fare public charter airline in the United States, headquartered in Largo, Florida, operating regular service to various vacation/leisure destinations using eight Douglas DC-9 and two McDonnell Douglas MD-80 aircraft...
; another low-cost carrier
Low-cost carrier
A low-cost carrier or low-cost airline is an airline that generally has lower fares and fewer comforts...
which declined into bankruptcy
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
after concerns about improper record keeping and maintenance issues arose. Steve Schoen put up no money in this most recent business endeavor and was able to convince other investor
Investor
An investor is a party that makes an investment into one or more categories of assets --- equity, debt securities, real estate, currency, commodity, derivatives such as put and call options, etc...
s to put up all the seed money for JetAmerica.
JetAmerica had planned to operate under the name Air Azul, but on May 4, 2009, the company changed its name to Jet America, citing internal changes including no longer being associated with Sun Country Airlines
Sun Country Airlines
MN Airlines, LLC, operating as Sun Country Airlines, is an American low-cost airline headquartered in the Minneapolis-St. Paul suburb of Mendota Heights, Minnesota...
. Concerns were addressed that its name was too similar to a Brazilian airline (Azul Brazilian Airlines
Azul Brazilian Airlines
Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras S/A is a Brazilian domestic low-cost airline based in Barueri. It was established on 5 May 2008 by Brazilian-born David Neeleman, founder and former-CEO of JetBlue. The airline began service on December 15, 2008 and has ordered a fleet of 76 Embraer 195 jets...
) started by former JetBlue founder, David Neeleman
David Neeleman
David G. Neeleman is a Brazilian-born American entrepreneur who has founded three commercial airlines, Morris Air, JetBlue Airways and Azul Brazilian Airlines.-Biography:...
. The company had since adopted the name and logo by the previous startup attempt let by John Weikle, who formerly was the founder of Skybus Airlines
Skybus Airlines
Skybus Airlines Inc. was a privately held airline based in Columbus, Ohio, United States. It operated as an ultra-low-cost carrier modeled after the European airline Ryanair, and aimed to be the least expensive airline in the United States...
.
The airline also had partnered with Locair
Locair
Locair is an American FAR Part 135 charter airline with its headquarters on the grounds of Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in unincorporated Broward County, Florida, near Fort Lauderdale. Formed in 1993 the airline specializes in cargo and passenger charters around Florida and to...
to provide Fairchild Metro service between Somerset, KY and Nashville,TN. This agreement however was terminated earlier in 2009 when the business plan was changed to the JetAmerica idea.
Air Azul originally planned flights to Newark
Newark Liberty International Airport
Newark Liberty International Airport , first named Newark Metropolitan Airport and later Newark International Airport, is an international airport within the city limits of both Newark and Elizabeth, New Jersey, United States...
, Baltimore, and various midwestern cities. The Baltimore flights were dropped after Air Azul initially suspended flights in April 2009 and was renamed JetAmerica.
Destinations
Florida
- MelbourneMelbourne, FloridaMelbourne is a city in Brevard County, Florida, United States. As of 2009, the population estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau is 78,323. The municipal area is the second largest by size and by population in the county. Melbourne is a principal city of the Palm Bay – Melbourne – Titusville, Florida...
(Melbourne International AirportMelbourne International AirportMelbourne International Airport is a public airport located 1 1/2 miles northwest of the downtown business district of Melbourne, a city in Brevard County, Florida, United States. Located on central Florida's Space Coast, the airport is accessed via NASA Boulevard...
): Service to Newark (3x weekly), Lansing (1x weekly), and Toledo (2x weekly).
Indiana
- South BendSouth Bend, IndianaThe city of South Bend is the county seat of St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States, on the St. Joseph River near its southernmost bend, from which it derives its name. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total of 101,168 residents; its Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 316,663...
(South Bend Regional AirportSouth Bend Regional AirportSouth Bend Regional Airport is a public airport located three miles northwest of the central business district of South Bend, a city in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States. This airport is publicly owned by St. Joseph County Airport Authority...
): Service to Newark (2x weekly).
Michigan
- LansingLansing, MichiganLansing is the capital of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located mostly in Ingham County, although small portions of the city extend into Eaton County. The 2010 Census places the city's population at 114,297, making it the fifth largest city in Michigan...
(Capital Region International Airport): Service to Melbourne (1x weekly) and Newark (3x weekly).
Minnesota
- Minneapolis (Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport): Service to Toledo (3x weekly)
New Jersey
- NewarkNewark, New JerseyNewark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
(Newark Liberty International AirportNewark Liberty International AirportNewark Liberty International Airport , first named Newark Metropolitan Airport and later Newark International Airport, is an international airport within the city limits of both Newark and Elizabeth, New Jersey, United States...
): Service to Lansing (3x weekly), Melbourne (3x weekly), South Bend (2x weekly), and Toledo (6x weekly).
Ohio
- ToledoToledo, OhioToledo is the fourth most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Lucas County. Toledo is in northwest Ohio, on the western end of Lake Erie, and borders the State of Michigan...
(Toledo Express AirportToledo Express AirportToledo Express Airport is a passenger and cargo airport located 10 miles west of the city of Toledo in the extreme Western portion of Lucas County, Ohio, United States, near the border with Fulton County, in the townships of Swanton and Monclova. It is also a base for the Ohio Air National...
): Service to Melbourne (2x weekly), Minneapolis (3x weekly), and Newark (6x weekly).
Fleet
| Aircraft | Total | Orders | Passengers (First/Economy) | Routes | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boeing 737-800 | 1 | 19 within 5 years | 0/189 | All Routes | Operated by Miami Air International Miami Air International Miami Air International is an American charter airline based in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. It operates worldwide passenger charter flights for diverse groups including cruise operators, professional sports teams and the United States military... |
JetAmerica had announced plans to add a second Boeing 737-800 in July, and up to as many as four by July 2010. The company's business plan, as announced by Weikle, would have added an additional aircraft every four months.
When JetAmerica was known as Air Azul, their original plan was to operate flights with air crew and aircraft leased from Sun Country Airlines
Sun Country Airlines
MN Airlines, LLC, operating as Sun Country Airlines, is an American low-cost airline headquartered in the Minneapolis-St. Paul suburb of Mendota Heights, Minnesota...
using Boeing 737-800 with 12 first class seats and 150 coach seats, but financing and business plan changes altered this.