USA3000 Airlines

Infobox_Airline
airline=USA3000 Airlines
logo=U5logo.pnglogo_size=250
fleet_size=9
destinations=19
IATA=U5
ICAO=GWY
callsign=GETAWAY
parent=
founded=2000
headquarters=Newtown Square, Pennsylvania
key_people= Steve Harfst, President/CEO [Nov08] Jack Eastman, Interim COO
frequent_flyer=
lounge=
alliance=
website= http://www.usa3000.com/

Brendan Airways, LLC, trading as USA3000 Airlines is an American airline headquartered in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania. It operates a fleet of Airbus A320 aircraft.

History

In the year 2000, preliminary discussions began at [http://applevacations.com/index.do?command=showHome Apple Vacations] to outline the organization and launch of an airline. This airline, a sister company to Apple Vacations, would eventually become USA3000 Airlines. Over the course of the following months, preparations escalated, and on December 21, 2001, the airline was officially certified as an FAA part 121 operator. At the time, USA3000 Airlines exclusively operated charter flights, from Philadelphia, Newark (in April 2008 the Newark branch shutdown), Hartford, and Columbus, with just two aircraft. A third aircraft was added to the fleet in May 2002 and based in Chicago O’Hare Airport.

USA3000’s first destinations were Cancun and Punta Cana. The inaugural flight on December 28, 2001, flew from PHL to CUN. Though flights started to both of these destinations solely as charter service, the airline began offering scheduled air service in 2002. Also in 2002, USA3000 began service to Florida, expanding service to Fort Myers. St. Petersburg, and Fort Lauderdale stations opened in 2003. The origin of the company name is unknown and has never been publicly discussed, although it was likely derived from the now-defunct Canada 3000 Airlines.

Announced in May 2008, USA3000 Airlines will begin a major drawback of its Florida service, closing all stations except Fort Myers by August 18, 2008. The airline will cease operations in Melbourne, Florida on July 30, and Fort Lauderdale and St. Petersburg/Clearwater on August 18, 2008. In addition, the airline will not resume seasonal service to Sarasota/Bradenton, Florida. USA3000 has cited record-high fuel prices as reason for the service cuts. According to former USA3000 COO Angus Kinnear, "Florida has some of the lowest domestic air fares in the country and only Fort Myers fetches ticket prices high enough to make money with oil at $125 a barrel." In the same announcement, the airline confirmed the continuation of its remaining scheduled service, with a strong focus on maintaining the more profitable international routes. [ [http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/airlines/article506215.ece USA3000 Airlines to cut back Florida service] ]

Destinations

Bermuda (British Overseas Territory)

* Ferry Reach (L.F. Wade International Airport)

Dominican Republic

*La Romana (La Romana International Airport)
*Punta Cana (Punta Cana International Airport)

Jamaica

*Montego Bay (Sir Donald Sangster International Airport)

Mexico

*Baja California
**San José del Cabo (Los Cabos International Airport)
*Guerrero
**Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo (Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo International Airport)
*Jalisco
**Puerto Vallarta (Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport)
*Quintana Roo
**Cancún (Cancún International Airport)
**Cozumel (Cozumel International Airport)

United States

*Florida
**Fort Myers (Southwest Florida International Airport)
*Illinois
**Chicago (O'Hare International Airport)
*Maryland
**Baltimore (Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport)
*Michigan
**Detroit (Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport)
*Missouri
**St. Louis (Lambert-Saint Louis International Airport)
*Ohio
**Cincinnati (Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport)
**Cleveland (Cleveland Hopkins International Airport)
**Columbus (Port Columbus International Airport)
*Pennsylvania
**Philadelphia (Philadelphia International Airport)
**Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh International Airport)

Fleet

As of September 2008, USA3000 Airlines has 9 aircraft in its fleet consisting of: [ [http://airfleets.net/flottecie/USA%203000.htm USA3000 Airlines Fleet Detail] ]

*As of September 2008, USA3000's average fleet age was 5.7 years old. [ [http://airfleets.net/ageflotte/USA%203000.htm USA3000 Airlines Fleet Age] ]

USA3000 Airlines flies a fleet composed of solely Airbus A320 jet aircraft that are configured with 168 seats in a single-class configuration.

Most planes are new, delivered from Airbus. During the 2007 winter season, USA3000 operated 12 A320's, and in the spring will lease two to a German carrier, and give one back to the leasing company. Nine airplanes are scheduled for Summer 2008.

References

External links

* [http://www.usa3000airlines.com/ USA3000 Airlines]
* [http://www.ch-aviation.ch/aircraft.php?search=set&airline=U5&al_op=1 USA3000 Airlines Fleet]