ExpressJet to return to the skies

ExpressJet has been acquired by Polaris 8 LLC and is now looking to restart its operations. The airline, however, will not be returning to flying with small aircraft but is planning to relaunch, initially, with one leased B777-200ER. ExpressJet is looking to operate charter-flights with the aircraft, which is said to be N771LG (33396).

This Triple Seven was previously operated by Japan Airlines as JA711J and was retired in February 2021. Since March 2021, the aircraft has been stored at Victorville (CA).

ExpressJet ceased all operations on 23 August 2022, when the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. At that time, it operated three Embraer ERJ145s under the aha!-brand.

The history of ExpressJet goes back to 1986. Throughout the years it has been mainly operating as a production capacity carrier for American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and lastly United Airlines. This last airline terminated its contract with ExpressJet on 30 July 2020 due to the pandemic, resulting in the halting of flying. A year later, it returned to the skies with the aha!-brand but this didn't prove to be a success.

Photo by ExpressJet.