Air Choice One

Air Choice One is a United States-based regional airline code-designated 3E by IATA, though no corresponding ICAO code is listed for the carrier. Founded in 1979 by Steve Hanks as a fixed-base operation under the name Choice One, the company initially focused on charter flights, aircraft maintenance, and flight training before expanding into scheduled passenger services. In 2010, the airline rebranded as Air Choice One and entered the Essential Air Service (EAS) program, a U.S. government initiative that subsidizes air service to small and rural communities. The airline remains privately owned and operated primarily by the Hanks family, with its corporate headquarters located in St. Louis, Missouri. Over the years, Air Choice One has built a reputation for reliability in connecting underserved regions, often operating flights that are too thinly trafficked for larger carriers to sustain without federal support.

The fleet of Air Choice One is composed exclusively of turboprop aircraft, chosen for their efficiency on short-haul routes and ability to serve smaller airports with limited runway lengths. The airline primarily operates the Cessna 208B Grand Caravan, a single-engine utility turboprop that seats up to nine passengers, and the Saab 340B, a twin-engine aircraft that accommodates around 30 passengers. This combination allows the carrier to adjust capacity according to demand while maintaining cost-effective operations. The Saab 340B is particularly suited for longer EAS routes, offering a pressurized cabin and greater range, while the Cessna 208B is employed on shorter, lower-volume segments. Air Choice One does not operate any jet aircraft, and its entire fleet is maintained under its own Part 135 and Part 121 certificates. The airline has periodically updated its fleet by acquiring newer models of these proven turboprops, ensuring compliance with modern safety and efficiency standards.

The airline’s primary operational hub is at St. Louis Lambert International Airport in Missouri, which serves as the main base for aircraft maintenance, crew scheduling, and flight coordination. In addition to St. Louis, Air Choice One maintains a significant focus city at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago, Illinois, and also bases operations at Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport in Minnesota. These hubs are strategically chosen to connect remote communities in the Midwest and Great Plains regions to major airline hubs, enabling passengers to access a broader network of connections through codeshare agreements with larger carriers. Despite being a small regional operator, Air Choice One has forged interline and code-share partnerships with major U.S. airlines, allowing its passengers to book seamless itineraries that include flights on larger carriers from the hub airports. The airline’s operational model is strictly regional and public-service oriented, focusing on EAS contracts that guarantee minimum levels of service to communities that would otherwise lack reliable air transportation.

Air Choice One operates under a regional/commuter airline model, with most of its revenue derived from EAS subsidies rather than from high passenger volumes or premium services. This makes it a lifeline carrier for the towns it serves, many of which are hours away from the nearest major airport by road. The airline does not belong to any global airline alliance, such as Star Alliance, oneworld, or SkyTeam, but its codeshare agreements effectively integrate it into the networks of much larger partners. In terms of recognition, Air Choice One has not received major industry awards but has been noted for its consistent performance in fulfilling EAS obligations and maintaining high reliability ratings despite operating on thin margins. One notable milestone was the airline’s public listing on the OTC Markets under the ticker symbol AIRB in 2014, making it a rare publicly traded small regional carrier. While its financial performance has been modest, Air Choice One remains a vital piece of the U.S. rural transportation infrastructure, quietly connecting small communities to the national air travel system for over a decade. Its continued operation underscores the ongoing importance of subsidized air service in maintaining economic and social connectivity across America’s vast interior.