aha!
IATA ICAO Callsign
EV ASQ ACEY
Commenced operationsOctober 24, 2021 (2021-10-24)
Ceased operationsAugust 22, 2022 (2022-08-22)[1]
AOC #ASOA029B[2]
Operating basesReno/Tahoe
Parent companyExpressJet
Key peopleSubodh Karnik (CEO & Chairman)
Websiteflyaha.com

Aha! (legally Aha! Travel Management Company LLC, stylized aha!) was the brand used by regional airline ExpressJet for flights between Reno–Tahoe International Airport and cities along the West Coast of the United States.

Overview

The brand name stands for "air-hotel-adventure" in reference to the company's plans to partner with resorts, casinos, and attractions in Reno and Tahoe to “bundle” value-priced vacation packages.[3] The company initially planned to serve each community three times per week with 50-seat Embraer ERJ 145 regional jets. Regular scheduled service began on October 24, 2021, from Reno to Pasco, Washington.

Aha!, together with its parent company ExpressJet, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on August 22, 2022.[4][5] Although Chapter 11 is typically used as protection while a debtor restructures, ExpressJet ceased all flight operations with plans to liquidate its assets.[6]

Destinations

Aha! operated from Reno–Tahoe International Airport to thirteen smaller cities along the West Coast of the United States and had planned to expand to up to 20 destinations:[3][7]

State City Airport Notes Refs
California Bakersfield Meadows Field Airport Terminated
Eureka Arcata–Eureka Airport Terminated
Fresno Fresno Yosemite International Airport
Ontario Ontario International Airport
Palm Springs Palm Springs International Airport
Santa Rosa Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport [8]
Idaho Boise Boise Airport [9]
Idaho Falls Idaho Falls Regional Airport [10]
Nevada Reno Reno–Tahoe International Airport Operating base
Oregon Eugene Eugene Airport
Medford Rogue Valley International–Medford Airport
Redmond Redmond Municipal Airport
Washington Pasco Tri-Cities Airport
Spokane Spokane International Airport

Fleet

An ExpressJet Airlines Embraer ERJ-145, which had been operated under the aha! brand.

The aha! fleet included the following aircraft during its existence:[2]

Aircraft In service Passengers Notes
Embraer ERJ-145 5 50 operated by ExpressJet
Total 5

References

  1. ^ Hart, Kaitlyn (August 23, 2022). "aha! Airlines grounded less than two weeks after launching first Idaho Falls flight". East Idaho News. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Federal Aviation Administration – Airline Certificate Information – Detail View". av-info.faa.gov. Retrieved August 11, 2022.
  3. ^ a b "aha! launches eight nonstop flights from Reno-Tahoe International Airport to cities across the western United States" (PDF) (Press release). September 29, 2021. Retrieved September 30, 2021.
  4. ^ Hidalgo, Jason (August 23, 2022). "Reno-based Aha! Airlines cancels flights after parent company ExpressJet files bankruptcy". Reno Gazette-Journal. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
  5. ^ "Regional airline operator ExpressJet files for bankruptcy". MarketWatch. Associated Press. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
  6. ^ Yamanouchi, Kelly (August 23, 2022). "ExpressJet files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after failed Reno operation". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved August 25, 2022.
  7. ^ "New airline – aha! to add nonstop flight to Spokane, Washington from Reno-Tahoe hub" (Press release). October 28, 2021. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
  8. ^ "aha! announces nonstop flights to Santa Rosa from Reno-Tahoe hub". Finance.yahoo.com. May 3, 2022. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
  9. ^ Hidalgo, Jason (July 21, 2022). "Aha! airlines' new nonstop Reno-Boise flight starts Aug. 31 at $39 for early bookers". Reno Gazette Journal. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  10. ^ Eaton, Nate (June 9, 2022). "aha! airline announces new nonstop flights between Idaho Falls and Reno-Tahoe". East Idaho News. Retrieved June 9, 2022.

External links

Airlines of the United States
Categories