Metro Airlines, originally Houston Metro Airlines, was a commuter airline that was headquartered in Houston, Texas, United States. Metro evolved into an airline holding firm with the acquisition of a number of different airlines.

History

In 1969 the airline was founded to serve the Houston area.

In 1972 the airline carried between 90,000 and 100,000 passengers per year. It displayed a profit of $156,510 U.S. dollars in an eight-month period.

In 1978 Metro enters the "stand up widebody cabin age" when the first orders for 5 Shorts 330's are announced. [778342] These aircraft would be used to compliment the Twin Otters already in use, upon higher demand routes, and offered far more comfortable seating for passengers and required Metro to make provisions for flight attendants to join the ranks of the regional airline.

Metro Airlines operated out of Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport under the American Eagle Airlines brand beginning on November 1, 1984. In 1985 the airline announced that it would end service to Houston Intercontinental Airport (now George Bush Intercontinental Airport).

Metro Airlines acquisitions

Metro Airlines spun its certificated airline, Metro Airlines off and formed a holding company of airlines. Among the "airline holdings" acquired by Metro were:

• Brockway Air - acquired in the summmer of 1989, Metro changed its name Air Northeast, but operated as a banner carrier codeshare parter for TW Express,
• Chaparral Airlines merged into the (Metro Leasing) operations of the Metroflight - "the American Eagle codeshare branded banner flying"
• Metro Express II- spun off from the original Metro airlines - "the Eastern Express branded banner flying and Metro Airlines"
• Sunaire - name changed to Aviation Associates operated for / as Eastern Express in the Carribean

Bankruptcy

In May 1993 Metro Airlines went bankrupt. The airline assets were promptly purchased and renamed by AMR Corporation whom were already involved with Metro Airlines by way of the "banner carrier" codeshare flying Metro Airlines performed for AMR as Metroflight, which was begun cooperatively by the legacy carrier airline and the regional during the middle part of the 1980's.

Destinations

Destinations served by Metro Airlines include:

• Clear Lake City, Texas STOLport
• Lake Jackson / Angleton Texas - Brazoria County Airport
• Houston - Houston Intercontinental Airport (now George Bush Intercontinental Airport)
• Victoria

References

1. "World Airline Directory." Flight International. March 30, 1985. 95." Retrieved on June 17, 2009.
2. Weiss, Michael. " METRO AIRLINES TO SHIFT SERVICE FROM HOUSTON." The Dallas Morning News. August 14, 1985. Retrieved on March 25, 2009.
3. Cray, Douglas W. " Airlines for Commuters." The New York Times. Business/Finance F17. September 10, 1972. Retrieved on March 25, 2009.
4. " Save Time and Money. Fly Metro and Delta to the Northeast or Midwest" (advertisement). The Victoria Advocate via Google News. May 13, 1974. Retrieved on March 25, 2009.