OneJet, an airline most of us haven’t heard of, just doubled its size with an acqusition that it believes will help it make money in a market abandoned by the major airlines.
The company, which flies non-stop routes between mid-sized cities that no longer have direct service because of major carriers’ focus on hub-and-spoke networks, is taking over Ultimate Jet Charters and its fleet of ten 30-seat regional jets.
OneJet’s routes connect city pairs that would otherwise require a flight to an airline’s hub and then a connecting flight to the final destination. Among the possibilities, soon to be expanded, are Kansas City to Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh to Hartford and Buffalo to Albany.
OneJet is actually a public charter operator; its flights are flown by airlines under contract, but OneJet sells the tickets. The effect is similar to the arrangements major airlines make for flights flown as American Eagle, Delta Express, etc. OneJet’s main carrier so far is Contour Airlines, which will continue in the role; with two carriers, OneJet will now have 20 planes and more are on order.
