Aha ! Definitely not the first airline to launch during the pandemic crisis in the United States, after Avelo Airlines started its first flight in April from Hollywood Burbank Airport in Los Angeles to Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County in Santa Rosa .
Also JetBlue Airways founder David Neeleman's Breeze Airways is making news with a tagline, "quicker with a nonstop flight and we're going to do it with a smile."
But, Country's newest carrier is heading into the U.S. skies with promises of bringing low fares and nonstop service to smaller cities without much connectivity, worse during the Pandemic .
Technically speaking , Aha ! is not actually a first timer , rather a repackaging of 'ExpressJet' , formerly a regional feeder to major carriers , that shut operations last year due to pandemic affected 'United Express' flights .
ExpressJet , which has its corporate headquarters in Atlanta, operated flights under the Delta Connection, American Eagle and United Express brands. The carrier was formerly a subsidiary of SkyWest Airlines, the largest regional carrier in the US.
ExpressJet’s 50-seat Embraer ERJ regional jets are being repainted in the 'Aha!' livery, but , the new business model is, Instead of connecting big airport hubs with secondary markets, as its predecessor did, Aha! will fly exclusively between smaller airfields that currently have no nonstop service to Reno.
"As ExpressJet began developing post-COVID flying opportunities that fit our history of serving smaller communities with regional aircraft, we realized that the old adage of 'getting there is half the fun' has become 'just getting there burns up half the vacation'," ExpressJet's CEO Subodh Karnik said in the statement. "With so many under-served communities and the allure of Reno-Tahoe, the aha! Brand model practically leapt at us."
Aha ! , the short form of “air-hotel-adventure”, plans to start operating from Nevada’s Reno-Tahoe International Airport after couple of days in October, starting fares of $49 one way.
Initially, Aha! will operate three times a week on routes connecting its Nevada base with eight West Coast cities, in California, Oregon, and Washington, starting with its first flight on October 24 to Pasco, in southern Washington State.
Other routes of Aha! , all operating out of Reno, will be flying as follows:
► Bakersfield, California (starting October 25)
► Medford/Ashland, Oregon (starting October 31)
► Eugene/Springfield, Oregon (starting November 1)
► Ontario, California (starting November 4)
► Redmond/Bend, Oregon (starting November 5)
► Eureka/Arcata, California (starting November 9)
► Fresno/Yosemite, California (starting November 10)
Aha! has other plans aswell , it will “soon” partner with resorts, casinos and attractions to sell bundled vacation packages.
About the baggage policy, Aha! is very clear ! Customers will each get one complimentary personal item, but must pay $30 for a carry-on bag, or $30 for their first checked bag . A second checked bag will cost $50, and additional baggage will cost $100 each.
Pictures : Nelson Perez | Facebook.
