Trans States and Chautauqua Airlines will serve seven new destinations from St. Louis starting September 5 as part of a push by American Airlines to replenish its downsized hub with regional jets. At the same time the airline will end American Connection service between St. Louis and Dallas Love Field, a route Trans States now flies for American directly against Southwest Airlines. Under the new schedules, Trans States will fly 50-seat ERJ 145s as American Connection between St. Louis and Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Charlotte, N.C.; New Orleans; Springfield, Mo.; and Tulsa, Okla., while Indianapolis-based Chautauqua covers service between St. Louis and Dayton, Ohio, and Newark, N.J., with 44-seat ERJ 140s. Meanwhile, American awaits the start
of Great Lakes Aviation service from St. Louis to Springfield, Ill., and five EAS destinations last served in March by the now defunct RegionsAir. Great Lakes agreed to fly Beech 1900s as an AA Connection carrier after the FAA yanked RegionsAir’s certificate for training and recordkeeping deficiencies, but by press time the Cheyenne, Wyo.-based airline hadn’t yet secured the airplanes to do so.