XJT Suspends Branded, DL Operations

After only 18 months and only a week after it announced the end of its Delta Connection flying at Los Angeles and Salt Lake City, Express Jet will suspend branded commercial operations as of September 2. It will return the 39 aircraft flying these routes to the lessor no later than June 2009.
"If we had any other choice, we would not take this difficult action," said President and CEO Jim Ream, who thanked the communities with branded service for their warm welcome. "However, rising fuel prices has made the operation impossible to sustain."
ExpressJet Airlines will continue flying a fleet of 205 aircraft as Continental Express to more than 150 destinations, as well as continue to serve charter customers with a fleet of 30 aircraft through ExpressJet Corporate Aviation.