Comair

Comair, a former regional airline in the United States, was known by its IATA code OH and ICAO code COM. The airline was established in 1977 by David R. Mueller and initially operated as a small commuter carrier serving the Ohio Valley region. Over time, it grew into one of the largest regional operators in the country, particularly after becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of Delta Air Lines in 1999. Delta had acquired Comair through its purchase of the then-parent company Comair Holdings for approximately $2.1 billion. Under Delta’s ownership, Comair operated exclusively as a Delta Connection carrier, providing feeder services to Delta’s extensive network. The airline’s headquarters were located at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) in Hebron, Kentucky, which served as its primary hub for most of its operational life. Additionally, Comair maintained a significant presence at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) and had crew bases and maintenance facilities at other Delta hub airports such as Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) and John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York.

Comair’s fleet was predominantly composed of regional jets from the Bombardier CRJ series, a selection that reflected its role as a regional feeder. The airline was notably the launch customer for the Bombardier CRJ100 in 1992, taking delivery of the world’s first production CRJ100 in October of that year. This pioneering move established Comair as a leader in regional jet operations and allowed it to phase out older turboprop aircraft over time. The fleet expanded to include the larger CRJ200, CRJ700, and CRJ900 models, with the latter two offering more capacity and improved passenger comfort. At its peak, Comair operated over 180 aircraft, all of which were configured to suit Delta Connection standards. Despite the success of the CRJ series, the airline faced challenges with fleet modernization in later years, and its reliance on a single aircraft family made it vulnerable to operational disruptions and rising fuel costs.

Comair’s operational model was that of a traditional regional airline, operating under a capacity purchase agreement (CPA) with Delta Air Lines. This meant that Delta controlled scheduling, pricing, and seat inventory, while Comair provided the aircraft, crew, maintenance, and insurance (ACMIs) for its flights. The airline did not hold any independent alliance membership, as its operations were fully integrated into Delta’s network, but Delta itself is a founding member of the SkyTeam alliance. Comair’s primary function was to feed passengers from smaller markets into Delta’s major hubs, a role that required high frequency and punctual service. The airline was known for its strong safety record and for consistently achieving high operational reliability ratings from the U.S. Department of Transportation. However, like many regional operators, Comair faced severe financial pressures after the September 11 attacks and during the 2008 recession; it eventually filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2012 after failing to reach a new contract with its pilots union.

Notable milestones in Comair’s history include its pioneering role in regional jet operations, which reshaped the U.S. regional airline industry. In 1992, the airline introduced the first scheduled service with the CRJ100, proving that regional jets could efficiently serve routes previously dominated by turboprops. Comair also received multiple awards for customer service and operational excellence, including several Air Transport World awards for regional airline of the year. Despite its eventual closure in 2012, with its operations ceasing in September of that year, Comair left a lasting legacy as an early adopter of regional jet technology and as a key component of Delta’s domestic network for over a decade. The airline’s hubs at Cincinnati and Detroit continue to be served by other Delta Connection carriers today, but Comair itself remains a significant chapter in the history of U.S. regional aviation, remembered for its instrumental role in defining the regional jet era.