Simmons Airlines
Encyclopedia
Simmons Airlines is the predecessor to American Eagle Airlines
based in the United States. Its headquarters were originally near Marquette, Michigan
, at the Marquette County Airport in Negaunee, and were eventually moved to the Near North Side
of Chicago, Illinois.
and Lansing
using a Piper Navajo. Operations expanded in the 1980s to link multiple points in Michigan
to Chicago
and Detroit, and its fleet expanded with Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante
, Shorts 360
s, and YS-11s. It began operating as a Republic Express branded carrier on April 28, 1985 (later Northwest Airlink
) serving markets from Detroit, and as an American Eagle
branded carrier on October 1, 1985 serving markets from Chicago.
Simmons was acquired by AMR Corp.
on August 1, 1987 and ended Northwest Airlink
fights soon after. On May 28, 1993, it acquired certain assets of the holdings of Metro Airlines. Metro Airlines
and its holdings Metro Airlines Leasing
d/b/a Metroflight
, operated American Eagle flights from DFW
and had recently acquired Chaparral Airlines just prior the asset acquisition by AMR Simmons.
In 1998 the remaining certificated
regional airline
carriers Wings West Airlines
and Flagship Airlines which were both wholly owned by the AMR Corporation., and operating under the American Eagle banner and brand, were merged under the surviving Simmons Airlines IATA designator 'MQ', thus forming a true certificated airline named; American Eagle Airlines
rather than just an Airlink, Connect, Connection, Eagle, or Express airline codeshare brand. Executive Airlines is the only fully owned remaining AMR regional banner carrier airline and continues to operate as Executive Airlines
d/b/a under the branding of American Eagle.
American Eagle Airlines
American Eagle Airlines is a brand name used by American Eagle Airlines, Inc. , based in Fort Worth, Texas, and Executive Airlines based in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in the operation of passenger air service as regional affiliates of American Airlines. All three airlines are wholly owned subsidiaries...
based in the United States. Its headquarters were originally near Marquette, Michigan
Marquette, Michigan
Marquette is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Marquette County. The population was 21,355 at the 2010 census, making it the most populated city of the Upper Peninsula. Marquette is a major port on Lake Superior, primarily for shipping iron ore and is the home of Northern...
, at the Marquette County Airport in Negaunee, and were eventually moved to the Near North Side
Near North Side, Chicago
The Near North Side is one of 77 well-defined community areas of Chicago, Illinois, United States. It is located north and east of the Chicago River, just north of the central business district . To its east is Lake Michigan and its northern boundary is the 19th-century city limit of Chicago,...
of Chicago, Illinois.
History
Simmons Airlines, Inc. began operations in 1978 between MarquetteMarquette, Michigan
Marquette is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Marquette County. The population was 21,355 at the 2010 census, making it the most populated city of the Upper Peninsula. Marquette is a major port on Lake Superior, primarily for shipping iron ore and is the home of Northern...
and Lansing
Lansing, Michigan
Lansing is the capital of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located mostly in Ingham County, although small portions of the city extend into Eaton County. The 2010 Census places the city's population at 114,297, making it the fifth largest city in Michigan...
using a Piper Navajo. Operations expanded in the 1980s to link multiple points in Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
to Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
and Detroit, and its fleet expanded with Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante
Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante
The Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante is a general purpose 15-21 passenger twin-turboprop light transport aircraft suitable for military and civil duties...
, Shorts 360
Shorts 360
The Short 360 is a commuter aircraft built by Short Brothers. The Short 360 seats up to 36-39 passengers and was introduced into service in 1981. It is a larger version of the Short 330.-Development:...
s, and YS-11s. It began operating as a Republic Express branded carrier on April 28, 1985 (later Northwest Airlink
Northwest Airlink
Northwest Airlink was the trade name of Northwest Airlines' regional airline service, which flew turboprop and regional jet aircraft from Northwest's domestic hubs in Minneapolis, Detroit, and Memphis...
) serving markets from Detroit, and as an American Eagle
American Eagle Airlines
American Eagle Airlines is a brand name used by American Eagle Airlines, Inc. , based in Fort Worth, Texas, and Executive Airlines based in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in the operation of passenger air service as regional affiliates of American Airlines. All three airlines are wholly owned subsidiaries...
branded carrier on October 1, 1985 serving markets from Chicago.
Simmons was acquired by AMR Corp.
AMR Corp.
AMR Corporation is a commercial aviation business and airline holding company based in Fort Worth, Texas, United States. Formed in 1982, as part of American Airlines's non-bankruptcy reorganization into a Delaware corporation, its name derives from American Airlines's ticker symbol on the New York...
on August 1, 1987 and ended Northwest Airlink
Northwest Airlink
Northwest Airlink was the trade name of Northwest Airlines' regional airline service, which flew turboprop and regional jet aircraft from Northwest's domestic hubs in Minneapolis, Detroit, and Memphis...
fights soon after. On May 28, 1993, it acquired certain assets of the holdings of Metro Airlines. Metro Airlines
Metro Airlines
Metro Airlines, originally Houston Metro Airlines, was a commuter airline that was originally headquartered in Houston, Texas, United States, while at a later time it was headquartered on the grounds of Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and in Grapevine, Texas...
and its holdings Metro Airlines Leasing
Metro Airlines
Metro Airlines, originally Houston Metro Airlines, was a commuter airline that was originally headquartered in Houston, Texas, United States, while at a later time it was headquartered on the grounds of Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and in Grapevine, Texas...
d/b/a Metroflight
Metro Airlines
Metro Airlines, originally Houston Metro Airlines, was a commuter airline that was originally headquartered in Houston, Texas, United States, while at a later time it was headquartered on the grounds of Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and in Grapevine, Texas...
, operated American Eagle flights from DFW
Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport is located between the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas, and is the busiest airport in the U.S. state of Texas...
and had recently acquired Chaparral Airlines just prior the asset acquisition by AMR Simmons.
In 1998 the remaining certificated
Operating certificate
Operating certificate is a category of license issued by a government agency allowing an individual or company to provide a controlled type of service. These certificates are generally issued for a limited time period...
regional airline
Regional airline
Regional airlines are airlines that operate regional aircraft to provide passenger air service to communities without sufficient demand to attract mainline service...
carriers Wings West Airlines
Wings West Airlines
Wings West Airlines, often referred to simply as Wings West was an American regional airline headquartered at McChesney Field, unincorporated San Luis Obispo County, California.- History :...
and Flagship Airlines which were both wholly owned by the AMR Corporation., and operating under the American Eagle banner and brand, were merged under the surviving Simmons Airlines IATA designator 'MQ', thus forming a true certificated airline named; American Eagle Airlines
American Eagle Airlines
American Eagle Airlines is a brand name used by American Eagle Airlines, Inc. , based in Fort Worth, Texas, and Executive Airlines based in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in the operation of passenger air service as regional affiliates of American Airlines. All three airlines are wholly owned subsidiaries...
rather than just an Airlink, Connect, Connection, Eagle, or Express airline codeshare brand. Executive Airlines is the only fully owned remaining AMR regional banner carrier airline and continues to operate as Executive Airlines
Executive Airlines
Executive Airlines, Inc. is an airline headquartered in Carolina, Puerto Rico.Executive Airlines operates an extensive inter-island network in the Caribbean and to the Bahamas and the USA in American Eagle colors. Its main base is Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, San Juan. In addition,...
d/b/a under the branding of American Eagle.
Incidents / Accidents
- Simmons Airlines Flight 4184 (as American Eagle)
- Simmons Airlines Flight 1746, near Alpena, MI -- March 13, 1986.