A new 11-year code-share contract between Air Wisconsin and United Airlines went into full effect last month, after a U.S. bankruptcy court approved the terms of an MOU giving the Appleton, Wis.-based regional airline the authority to fly up to 17 more fifty-seat Bombardier CRJs as United Express. The deal also allows Air Wisconsin to continue United Express operations with its 17 BAe 146s through 2005. Beyond then, United might ask Air Wisconsin to retire up to seven of the four-engine jets.

In September United awarded Air Wisconsin exclusive responsibility for ground handling all United Express operations at Denver International and Chicago O’Hare Airports. The two-year contract also gave Air Wisconsin the ground-handling concession at 18 United Express outstations.

One of two United Express carriers to come to terms recently on code-share concessions for bankrupt United, Air Wisconsin on October 4 began serving two new United Express routes from Dulles International Airport, to Kansas City and St. Louis, after incumbent Dulles resident Atlantic Coast Airlines announced its intention to sever its relationship with the Chicago-based major.