Nations Air
{{Short description|Airline in the United States}}
{{more citations needed|date=April 2013}}
{{Infobox airline
| airline=Nations Air Express
| image=Nations Air Express Boeing 737-200 JetPix.jpg
| caption=Nations Air Express Boeing 737-200 at Fort Lauderdale, 1996
| IATA= N5
| ICAO= NAE
| callsign= NATIONS AIR EXPRESS
| founded=
| commenced= {{Start date and age|1995|03|06|br=y}}
| ceased= {{Start date and age|1999|09|01|br=y}}
| bases= {{plainlist|*Pittsburgh International Airport }}
| hubs=
| fleet_size=4 Boeing 737 and 4 Boeing 727
| destinations=
| headquarters=
| key_people= Mark McDonald (CEO)
}}
Nations Air was a new start up airline in the United States that began operating in 1995[http://www.airfleets.net/flottecie/Nations%20Air.htm Nations Air fleet information, at airfleets.net] that was established as Miami Air Charter in 1987{{cite web | url = https://airlinehistory.co.uk/airline/nations-air-express/ | title = Miami Air Charter | publisher = Airline History | accessdate = 1 March 2020}} and ceased operations in 2000.
It was not related to a similarly-named airline based in Canada, Nationair, which had ceased operations prior to Nations Air's establishment.
History
Nations Air began as a passenger airline with three Boeing 737-200 jetliners, adding four
Boeing 727 within the first year. Scheduled services were operated between Pittsburgh,
Philadelphia and Boston. The airline quickly faced aggressive competition, "Justice Probes
USAir's Actions In Fare Battles; Airline Denies 'Predatory' Tactics Against ValuJet and Nations
Air The Washington Post; August 15, 1995", as well as a five day voluntary "no-fly" consent over
a clerical error on a training form which required the pilots to repeat a single maneuver in the
Boeing simulator. According to the Department of Transportation data, Nations Air increased the
passenger traffic in these markets dramatically; specifically, the passenger traffic in the
Pittsburgh/Philadelphia market by 200%. Nations Air was the first airline to start scheduled jet
passenger service to Myrtle Beach South Carolina, connecting Pittsburgh and Boston through
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Nations Air also provided Boeing
727 contract schedule service to Pan Am World Airways, Air Jamaica and the U.S. Immigration
service. In March 1996, Nations Air announced extensive expansion plans to the route
structure connecting the Philadelphia hub to destinations of Fort Lauderdale, Orlando and
Tampa/St.Petersburg Florida.
Nations Air was established as Miami Air Charter in 1987. Miami Air Charter became one of
the most successful charter operations in Florida, operating both passenger and cargo aircraft.
Miami Air Charter's CEO Mark McDonald orchestrated a private equity placement with
Accredited Investors issuing Preferred A and B stock for the capital requirements to support the
airlines expansion.[https://web.archive.org/web/20181118200506/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-25013466.html "Start Up Airline Finds Skies Not Too Friendly"], Associated Press in Los Angeles Daily News, August 5, 1995.
The demise of scheduled service for Nations Air occurred after the Valujet crash in the Florida Everglades.Tom Belden, [https://web.archive.org/web/20181118182006/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-18307148.html "Discount Carrier Nations Air Suspends All Flights"], Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News (reprinted from The Philadelphia Inquirer, May 22, 1996. Nations Air CEO Mark McDonald reported that
reservations/income had dropped by 42% within six days after the Valuejet tragedy and made
the difficult decision to discontinue the scheduled service in an effort for the company to survive.
The aircraft dedicated on the scheduled route structure were deployed to the charter market.
His 737's on contracts with the US Immigration service and with the casino/hotel markets in
Atlantic City and Gulfport/Biloxi. The 727 were contracted to Air Jamaica, Aero Costa-Rica, Air
Haiti and on demand for other Caribbean Airlines.
Board of Directors
Dan Colussy - President/COO Pan Am World Airways 1978 - 1980
William Howard - Chairman/CEO Piedmont Airlines merged with USAir 1987
Morton Breyer - Founder MBA International Aviation Consulting Firm
Mark McDonald - President/CEO Nations Air Express
Service in 1995
According to the December 1, 1995 Nations Air system timetable, scheduled service was being operated on a linear Boston (BOS)-Philadelphia (PHL)-Pittsburgh (PIT) routing.{{clarification needed|date=December 2021}} Fares were as low as $59 one way BOS-PHL and PHL-PIT.http://www.departedflights.com, Dec. 1, 1995 Nations Air system timetable
Service in 1999
According to the June 1, 1999 Official Airline Guide (OAG), the airline was flying scheduled nonstop service between Gulfport, MS (GPT) and Atlanta (ATL) four times a week.http://www.departedflights.com, June 1, 1999 Official Airline Guide (OAG), Atlanta-Gulfport flight schedules
Fleet
- 2 Boeing 727-200 (N12304, N258US) leased from Pegasus Aviation{{cite web | url = https://rzjets.net/aircraft/?parentid=897&typeid=45&frstatus=3 | title = Boeing 727-200 | publisher = rzjets | accessdate = 16 August 2019}}
- 4 Boeing 737-200 (N305VA, N308VA, N309VA, N737F){{cite web | url = https://www.planespotters.net/airline/Nations-Air-Express | title = Nations Air Express Fleet | publisher = Planespotters | accessdate = 16 August 2019}}
See also
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{commons category|Nations Air Express}}
{{Portal bar|Companies|Aviation}}
{{Airlines of the United States}}
Category:Defunct airlines of the United States