Trans States Airlines :: TSA History

1982:
Resort Air is established in Missouri.
1983:
Resort Air issued Air Carrier Certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration and begins operations.
1985:
Resort Air enters into an agreement with Trans World Airlines and begins flying as Trans World Express.
The Trans World Express fleet consists of 15 Metro II and 4 Metro III aircraft, providing service to 6 cities in Missouri and Illinois.
1986:
Trans World Express introduces the state-of-the-art ATR-42. The ATR-42 is a 48 seat turboprop aircraft built by the European consortium Avions de Transport Regional.
1989:
Resort Air Inc. changes it name to Trans States Airlines. Trans States Airlines begins operations under USAir Express in Los Angeles with Jetstream J32 aircraft.
1991:
Trans States Airlines acquires additional Trans World Express operations from Air Midwest including a fleet of 8 Embraer EMB120’s, 15 British Aerospace Jeststream J32 aircraft and assets in 19 cities. Trans States Airlines now serves over 30 cities throughout the Midwest.
Trans States Airlines introduces the state-of-the-art ATR-72. The ATR-72 is a 68-seat turboprop aircraft built by the European consortium Avions de Transport Regional as part of its Trans World Express operations.

1993:
United Feeder Service is established as a United Express carrier at the airlines Chicago hub. The airline is headquartered in St. Louis and operated the British Aerospace BAe ATP Advanced Turbo Prop aircraft.
1994:
Trans States Airlines implements the first triple code share agreement in the United States between Alaska Airlines, Northwest Airlines, and USAir feeding passengers to all three airlines in Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego.
1995:
Trans States Airlines introduces the British Aerospace Jetstream J41. The J41 is a 30 seat turboprop aircraft that replaces the airlines Embraer EMB120’s.
Trans States Airlines begins operations on the East Coast feeding into JFK Airport in New York as Trans World Connection and United Express.
1998:
Trans States Airlines begins operations at JFK Airport in New York as a Delta Connection partner. Trans States Airlines receives its first Embraer ERJ 145 Regional Jet. This 50 seat aircraft flies as United Express into the Chicago O’Hare hub.
1999:
Trans States Airlines places the Embraer ERJ 145 Regional Jet into service with Delta Connection at JFK in New York.
2000:
Trans States Airlines places the Embraer ERJ 145 Regional Jet into service with Trans World Express from its Lambert Airport hub in St. Louis, Missouri.
Trans States Airlines begins operations on the East Coast as US Airways Express flying the Embraer ERJ145 and BAe Jetstream J41. The final British Aerospace BAe Jetstream J32 retires from the fleet.
2001:
American Airlines merges with Trans World Airlines. Trans States Airlines begins operations as AmericanConnection providing feeder service into the St. Louis hub.
2002:
Trans States Airlines enters marketing arrangement with American Airlines to display the Trans States “AX” airline code on American flights throughout the U.S. Trans States Airlines completes an additional agreement to display its code on American Airlines partner flights operated by Chautauqua Airlines and Corporate Airlines in St. Louis.
2003:
Trans States Airlines reaches a Memorandum of Understanding with United Airlines to operate select portions of the company’s United Express service. The new 10 year relationship calls for Trans States to operate up to 25 50-seat regional jets.
2005:
Leading industry publication Regional Aviation News names President Rick Leach "Regional Airline Executive of the Year." Aviation Week magazine chooses Trans States as its "Top Performing Regional Airline (small)" of the year.
2006:
Trans States wins the contract to perform ground handling and gate activity for all American Connection flights at Lambert-St. Louis Airport, providing jobs for an additional 200-plus St. Louis-based employees.
2007:
The Trans States maintenance operation wins its eighth consecutive Diamond award from the FAA in recognition of excellence in maintenance training. Trans States marks its 25th year of operation.