Boutique Air

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Not to be confused with boutique airline.
Boutique Air
Boutique air logo.png
IATA ICAO Callsign
4B BTQ BOUTIQUE
Founded2007
Commenced operations2014
AOC #2B5A106N[1]
HubsDenver International Airport
Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport
Fleet size34
Destinations32
HeadquartersSan Francisco, California, U.S.
Key peopleShawn Simpson (CEO)
Brian Kondrad (VP, Business Operations)
Websitewww.boutiqueair.com

Boutique Air, Inc. is a commuter airline based in San Francisco, California. The airline offers charter services as well as scheduled passenger services subsidized under the Essential Air Service (EAS) program. Boutique operates the second largest PC-12 fleet in the United States with 26 aircraft. In 2019 Boutique transported over 180,000 passengers.[2]

History[]

The company was founded in 2007 by Shawn Simpson, an early employee of Google. It was originally an aviation technology company before it began acquiring a fleet of aircraft in 2012 through its holding company Targaryen LLC.[3] It operated on-demand charters, pilot training, and air patrol services for government sectors using Cessnas before purchasing Pilatus PC-12 aircraft to operate its passenger charter flights.[4][5]

In 2013, it received commuter air carrier authority from the United States Department of Transportation.[6] Its first scheduled service was operated 2013-2014 between Hawthorne Municipal Airport near Los Angeles and McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas. During that time, the company began submitting proposals to provide scheduled service to rural communities and regions under contract as part of the Essential Air Service program, and began its first flights between Clovis Municipal Airport in New Mexico and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport in July 2014.[7][8][9] The carrier has expanded further in New Mexico to include airports in Carlsbad, Los Alamos, Albuquerque, and Silver City.[10][11] By the end of 2015, it flew 14 scheduled routes with an Essential Air Service airport destination.

In 2017, Boutique Air began a new car rental company, named Boutique Car. These services are typically used at locations without other car rental options and is being expanded across their route map. In 2019, the airline added three airplanes to its fleet and spent over $10,000 on marketing in Victoria, Texas leading to a 132% increase in passenger air traffic in that region.[12] In 2020, United Airlines announced that Boutique Air will be a partner airline for its new United Aviate program.[13] Boutique is the first commuter airline and part 135 operator to have a flow-through program with a legacy carrier.

Corporate affairs[]

The headquarters are at Suite 925 of 5 3rd Street, San Francisco.[14]

The headquarters were previously at 340 Pine Street,[15] and later in the Flatiron Building.[16]

Destinations[]

See List of Boutique Air destinations

Airline Agreements[]

United Airlines[]

Boutique Air announced a new codeshare agreement with United Airlines on May 23, 2018.[17] Customers can book their entire itinerary under a single reservation for through ticketing and baggage transfer to their final destination. MileagePlus members can earn miles on eligible Boutique Air flights. Since Boutique has a codeshare with United Airlines, passengers with United Club memberships can access the lounge even if they are not flying with United.

American Airlines[]

In December 2018, Boutique launched a new interline agreement with American Airlines.[18] Similar to the codeshare with United, customers can book all flights under a single reservation for flow through ticketing and baggage transfers to their final destination.

United Aviate[]

In 2020, United Airlines launched a new flow-through program called United Aviate. The Aviate Experience Build Entry Point, allows for current and recently hired Boutique Air pilots to enter the program.[19] Afterwards, there is an evaluation process that includes employment history, panel interviews, technical skill inventory and a personality and cultural fit inventory.[20] Once accepted into the program, pilots will have access to travel privileges, site tours, development events, coaching, United leadership interaction, and a direct path to United Airlines. When the applicant has earned their ATP certificate, they can transition to one of the United Express Aviate partners. The choices include Air Wisconsin, CommutAir and Mesa Airlines. Once the minimum service requirements with United Express are met, the applicant will be eligible to transition to a First Officer position with United.

Boutique Car[]

In 2017, Boutique started a new rental car service called 'Boutique Car'. This service provides ground transportation options for communities that have no other options and complements Boutique's EAS proposals. Seven locations currently utilize this service:[21]

Fleet[]

Boutique Air Pilatus PC-12

Boutique Air operates the following fleet:[22]

Aircraft In Fleet Passengers Notes
Pilatus PC-12-45 12 8
Pilatus PC-12-47 15 8
Beechcraft King Air 300 5 9
Piaggio P.180 Avanti 2 7 Standby aircraft
Total 34

Accidents and incidents[]

Date Flight Number Information
April 23, 2020 BTQ902 Pilatus PC-12 registration N477SS was departing from Dallas/Ft. Worth when the pilot reported an engine problem. Finally diverting to Mesquite Metro, the aircraft crash landed short of Runway 18. The sole pilot on board received serious injuries and the airplane was damaged beyond repair.[23][24]
January 21, 2021 BTQ835 Pilatus PC-12 registration N451SS was approaching Chicago O'Hare Airport as flight 4B835 when it lost the left main landing gear tire. The tire landed in Jefferson Park, a neighborhood just east of the airport. No one was injured and the Federal Aviation Administration is investigating.[25]

References[]

  1. ^ "Federal Aviation Administration - Airline Certificate Information - Detail View". av-info.faa.gov. Retrieved 2019-06-27.
  2. ^ Huber, Mark. "Boutique Air Grows With PC-12s". Aviation International News. Retrieved 2020-09-14.
  3. ^ "TARGARYEN LLC - SAN FRANCISCO, CA - CESSNA T337F - N1741M - Fixed Wing Multi Engine". whoseplane.com. Retrieved 2016-02-15.
  4. ^ "Boutique Air - Boutique Air Pilatus | Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2016-02-15.
  5. ^ "United States Department of Transportation Request for Information" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-22. Retrieved 2016-02-15.
  6. ^ "Order 2012-11-32 Served: November 29, 2012 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY WASHI" (PDF). webcache.googleusercontent.com. Retrieved 2016-02-15.
  7. ^ Deppen, Colin. Bradford Airport carrier service contracts re-bid, The Bradford Era, May 29, 2014, retrieved 2014-07-16
  8. ^ Leeds, Kim. Cape Air to take over Montana Essential Air Service flights, Havre Daily News, September 6, 2013, Retrieved 2014-07-16
  9. ^ Kahin, Vanessa. Municipal flights to Dallas/Fort Worth begin, Clovis News Journal, July 15, 2014, retrieved 2014-07-16
  10. ^ Dunlap, Susan. Boutique Air announces flights to Albuquerque Archived December 29, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, Silver City Sun-News, December 25, 2014, Retrieved 2014-12-29
  11. ^ Onsurez, Jessica and Katie England. Airport: Carlsbad now connected to Dallas/Fort Worth Archived 2015-05-22 at the Wayback Machine, Carlsbad Current-Argus, April 28, 2015, Retrieved 2015-04-28
  12. ^ Weaver, Emree (2019-04-14). "Boutique Air executive gives overview of Victoria operations". The Victoria Advocate. Retrieved 2019-11-15.
  13. ^ "United Airlines Becomes First US Carrier to Open Its Own Flight School". TravelPulse. Retrieved 2020-05-12.
  14. ^ "Contact". Boutique Air. Retrieved 2019-06-09. CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS: Boutique Air, Inc. 5 3rd Street Suite 925 San Francisco, CA 94103
  15. ^ "Contact Us." Boutique Air. March 25, 2012. Retrieved on June 9, 2019. "Boutique Air, Inc. 340 Pine Street, Suite 503 San Francisco, CA 94104"
  16. ^ "Contact Us." Boutique Air. Retrieved on June 4, 2015. "Boutique Air, Inc. 548 Market Street ste 73298 San Francisco, CA 94104"
  17. ^ "Boutique Air - News 271". www.boutiqueair.com. Retrieved 2020-03-12.
  18. ^ "FAQ". www.boutiqueair.com. Retrieved 2020-07-25.
  19. ^ "United Airlines Pilot Careers and Programs". www.airlineapps.com. Retrieved 2020-05-12.
  20. ^ "United Aviate". United Aviate. Retrieved 2020-05-12.
  21. ^ "Boutique Air". www.boutiquecar.com. Retrieved 2020-04-29.
  22. ^ "Federal Aviation Administration - Airline Certificate Information - Detail View". Av-info.faa.gov. Retrieved 2021-05-12.
  23. ^ "FAA Accident and Incident Notification: BTQ902". www.asias.faa.gov. 2020-04-24. Retrieved 2020-04-24.
  24. ^ "Aviation Safety Network report on BTQ902 crash". Aviation Safety Network. 2020-04-23. Retrieved 2020-04-24.
  25. ^ "Tire Falls Off Small Plane, Lands In Jefferson Park Neighborhood". 2021-01-21. Retrieved 2021-04-08.

External links[]

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