Air Choice One
{{short description|American commuter airline based in Missouri}}
{{Infobox airline
| airline = Air Choice One
| logo = Air Choice One Logo.png
| fleet_size = 3
| destinations = 3
| IATA = 3E
| ICAO = ACO
| callsign = WEBER
| parent = Southern Airways Corporation
Multi-Aero, Inc.
| founded = {{Start date and age|1979}}
(as Multi-Aero Corporation)
| commenced = {{Start date and age|2010}}
| ceased = {{End date and age|2022}}
| aoc = MUIA594G
| num_employees = 25 (13 pilots)
| headquarters = St. Louis, Missouri United States
| key_people = Shane Storz (President)
| hubs = *St. Louis
| focus_cities =
| frequent_flyer = Choice Plus
| lounge =
| alliance =
| website = {{url|airchoiceone.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."[http://www.facebook.com/pages/Air-Choice-One/104431299607389?sk=info Facebook - Info].". Retrieved on July 19, 2011. "12300 Old Tesson Road Suite 200-F St. Louis 63128" 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.{{cite news |url=http://www.kirksvilledailyexpress.com/news/x1346897693/Air-Choice-One-begins-offering-flights-to-St-Louis |title=Air Choice One begins offering flights to St. Louis |date=2008-08-01 |work=Kirksville Daily Express |access-date=2009-08-26 |archive-date=2011-07-13 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20110713153521/http://www.kirksvilledailyexpress.com/news/x1346897693/Air-Choice-One-begins-offering-flights-to-St-Louis |url-status=dead }} Air Choice One's callsign, "Weber," is in honor of Mike Weber, the airline's first Chief Pilot.
History
Multi-Aero was founded in 1979 under the name Multi-Aero Corporation.{{cite web |url=http://www.airchoiceone.com/templates/about.php |title=About Air Choice One - The Company |publisher=Air Choice One |access-date=2009-08-26 |archive-date=2010-02-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100214123410/http://www.airchoiceone.com/templates/about.php |url-status=dead }} In October 2009, Air Choice One won the EAS contract to serve Decatur, Illinois,Freeman, Huey. [http://www.herald-review.com/news/local/article_b226486e-287c-5068-ac97-87a8d3cf1562.html Decatur a step closer to restoring air service to O'Hare], Herald & Review, October 23, 2009, Retrieved 2009-10-23 and Burlington, Iowa.Crippes, Christina [http://www.thehawkeye.com/story/airport-102309 Regional airport gets choice of new carrier], The Hawk Eye, October 23, 2009, Retrieved 2009-10-27
Air Choice One was awarded its first EAS contract to replace{{cite web|url=http://harrisondaily.com/news/air-choice-one-to-fly-into-jonesboro-as-new-eas/article_e5b47444-301c-11e1-a3ce-001871e3ce6c.html|title= Air Choice One to fly into Jonesboro as new EAS carrier|publisher=HarrisonDaily.com|access-date=2012-01-03}} SeaPort Airlines in Jonesboro, Arkansas in December 2011.{{cite web|url=http://www.airchoiceone.com/sites/default/files/Sched_JBR%20New%20Service.pdf|title=Air Choice One JBR Flight Schedule|publisher=Air Choice One|access-date=2012-01-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120430145941/http://www.airchoiceone.com/sites/default/files/Sched_JBR%20New%20Service.pdf|archive-date=2012-04-30|url-status=dead}} In January 2013, the DOT granted Air Choice One a three-year contract extension for both Decatur, Illinois,Voyles, Ryan [http://herald-review.com/business/local/way-cleared-for-air-choice-one-to-serve-decatur-for/article_74c3052c-594f-11e2-b1ac-001a4bcf887a.html Way cleared for Air Choice One to serve Decatur for three more years], Herald Review, January 8, 2013, Retrieved 2013-02-24 and Burlington, Iowa.[http://www.dailydem.com/articles/2013/01/11/obituaries/obits3.txt 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]{{Dead link|date=October 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, Fort Madison Daily Democrat, January 11, 2013, Retrieved 2013-02-24 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. 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=DOT-OST-2001-8731-0123|title=Regulations.gov|website=regulations.gov|access-date=16 November 2018}}
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.{{cite web|url=https://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Notice/WOCC_ACO_GENOT.pdf|title=FAA Orders & Notices|website=www.faa.gov|access-date=29 January 2019}} In March 2019, the airline started utilizing InteliSys' {{Proper name|ameliaRES}} reservation system. This system provides Passenger Service System (PSS) and departure control systems (DCS), reservation management, codeshare, interline and real-time inventory control.{{cite web|url=https://www.airchoiceone.com/intelisys-aviation-welcomes-air-choice-one-to-the-amelia-family/|title=InteliSys Aviation Welcomes Air Choice One to the Amelia Family|website=www.airchoiceone.com|access-date=20 February 2019}}
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.{{Cite web|last=DELT|title=Air Choice One Airlines Enhances Booking Capabilities with Technological Advancements|url=https://airchoiceone.com/news/2020/air-choice-one-airlines-enhances-booking-capabilities-with-technological-advancements|access-date=2021-05-31|website=Air Choice One|language=en-US}}
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.{{cite web |url=https://flightaware.com/live/flight/ACO1668 |title=FlightAware |website=FlightAware |access-date=27 March 2021}}{{cite web |url=https://flightaware.com/live/flight/ACO1677 |title=FlightAware |website=FlightAware |access-date=27 March 2021}}{{cite web |url=https://flightaware.com/live/flight/ACO3852 |title=FlightAware |website=FlightAware}}
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.{{Cite web|last=DELT|title=Air Choice One Participates in TSA PreCheck® for Customer Convenience|url=https://www.airchoiceone.com/news/2021/air-choice-one-participates-in-tsa-precheckr-for-customer-convenience|access-date=2021-05-31|website=Air Choice One|language=en-US}}
In August 2021, the Burlington airport board voted to recommend Cape Air to take over the EAS contract for Burlington, IA.{{Cite web|last=Anderson|first=Laigha|title=Southeast Iowa Regional Airport seeks to switch from Air Choice One to Cape Air. Here's what it means.|url=https://www.thehawkeye.com/story/news/local/2021/08/23/southeast-iowa-regional-airport-brl-seeks-switch-air-choice-one-cape-air/8186344002/|access-date=2021-09-19|website=The Hawk Eye|language=en-US}} 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.{{Cite web|last=Williams|first=Imani|title=Jonesboro Municipal Airport may add a new destination|url=https://www.kait8.com/2021/09/16/jonesboro-municipal-airport-may-add-new-destination/|access-date=2021-09-19|website=www.kait8.com|language=en}}
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.{{Cite web |last=DELT |title=Multi-Aero Inc. d/b/a Air Choice One to be Acquired by Southern Airways Corporation |url=https://airchoiceone.com/news/2022/multi-aero-inc-dba-air-choice-one-to-be-acquired-by-southern-airways-corporation-0 |access-date=2022-03-28 |website=Air Choice One |language=en-US}}
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
Former Destinations
| class="wikitable" |
| City
! Airport ! IATA code ! Destinations ! Notes |
|---|
| colspan="5" style="text-align: left;" |{{Flag icon|Florida}} Florida |
| Destin
|DTS |Jackson |Seasonal |
| colspan="5" style="text-align: left;" |{{Flag icon|Georgia (U.S. state)}} Georgia |
| Atlanta
|Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport | ATL |Jackson | |
| colspan="5" style="text-align: left;" |{{Flag icon|Illinois}} Illinois |
| Chicago
|ORD |Burlington | |
| Decatur
|DEC |Chicago O'Hare ----St. Louis | |
| colspan="5" style="text-align: left;" |{{Flag icon|Iowa}} Iowa |
| Burlington
|Southeast Iowa Regional Airport |BRL |Chicago O'Hare ----St. Louis | |
| Fort Dodge
|FOD |Mason City ----Minneapolis ----St. Louis | |
| Mason City
|MCW |Burlington ----Minneapolis ----Chicago O'Hare | |
| colspan="5" style="text-align: left;" |{{Flag icon|Michigan}} Michigan |
| Ironwood
|IWD |Chicago O'Hare ----Minneapolis | |
| colspan="5" style="text-align: left;" |{{Flag icon|Minnesota}} Minnesota |
| Minneapolis
|Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport |MSP |Fort Dodge ----Ironwood ----Mason City | |
| colspan="5" style="text-align: left;" |{{Flag icon|Missouri}} Missouri |
| Kirksville
|STL |St. Louis | |
| colspan="5" style="text-align: left;" |{{Flag icon|Tennessee}} Tennessee |
| Jackson
|McKellar-Sipes Regional Airport |MKL |Atlanta ----Destin ----St. Louis | |
Fleet
File:Air Choice One - Cessna Caravan 208B EX.jpg
File:Air Choice One - Hangar Ramp Aircraft.jpg
Prior to closure, Air Choice One operated the following aircraft:{{Cite web|title=Federal Aviation Administration - Airline Certificate Information - Detail View|url=https://av-info.faa.gov/detail.asp?DSGN_CODE=MUIA&OPER_FAR=135&OPER_NAME=MULTI-AERO+INC|access-date=2021-10-20|website=av-info.faa.gov}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|+ Air Choice One fleet |
| Aircraft
! In fleet ! Orders ! Passengers ! Notes |
|---|
| style="text-align: left" | Beechcraft 1900C
| 1 | 0 | 9 | Currently configured for 9 with intent for 19 upon FAA approval expected Q2 2022 |
| style="text-align: left" | Cessna 208B Grand Caravan
| 2 | 0 | 8 | Two aircraft have the ability to be converted to all-cargo configuration. |
| Total
!3 !0 ! colspan="2" | |
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
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.{{Cite web|last=DELT|title=Join Our Rewards Program|url=https://www.airchoiceone.com/rewards|access-date=2021-11-20|website=Air Choice One|language=en-US}}
- Business Fare - 100%
- Everyday - 60%
For every dollar spent, one point is earned. These points would expire after two years.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category inline}}
- {{official website|https://www.airchoiceone.com/}}
- [http://www.multiaero.com/ Multi-Aero, Inc.]
{{Portalbar|United States|Companies|Aviation}}
{{Airlines of the United States|state=collapsed}}
Category:Defunct regional airlines of the United States
Category:Airlines established in 1979
Category:Airlines disestablished in 2022
Category:Companies based in St. Louis County, Missouri
Category:American companies established in 1979
Category:American companies disestablished in 2022
Category:1979 establishments in Missouri