GP Express Airlines

GP Express Airlines was a scheduled passenger commuter air carrier with its headquarters located in Grand Island, Nebraska^[1] The parent corporation of the airline began on-demand air charter operations in December 1975. In December 1985 the Department of Transportation notified GP AIR (the parent corporation) that its bid to provide Essential Air Service (EAS) service in the Midwest had been accepted, GP AIR subsequently created subsidiary GP Express in order to conduct these operations under 14 CFR Part 135.

By 1992, the airline had expanded to provide air service with many flights being operated under EAS contracts to Colorado, Nebraska, South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina, Service in the southern U.S. began on June 6, 1992. By 1993 the airline was operating several Cessna 402 twin prop aircraft in addition to eight Beechcraft Model 99 turboprops and five Beechcraft 1900C turboprops with the latter being introduced in 1990.^[1][2]

GP Express operated as a Continental Connection carrier in association with Continental Airlines at the major carrier's hub in Denver (DEN) beginning in mid-1994. GP Express replaced Britt Airways at Denver as Continental was disbanding its hub operation there. By October 30, 1994, Continental was down to only serving Denver from its three hub airports while GP Express was continuing to run a full Continental Express operation at DEN. Over the next two years, GP Express discontinued all operations at Denver. The carrier began feeder services in support of new Continental Lite operations at Greensboro, NC and Tampa, FL in 1995 but filed for bankruptcy and then ceased operations a year later.^[3]

Continental Express service from Denver in 1995

According to the Official Airline Guide (OAG), GP Express was operating code sharing flights as Continental Express on behalf of Continental Airlines with Beechcraft 1900C commuter turboprop aircraft flying nonstop between Denver (DEN) and the following destinations in April 1995:^[4]

• Casper, WY
• Durango, CO
• Grand Junction, CO
• Gunnison, CO
• Jackson Hole, WY
• Lincoln, NE
• McCook, NE
• Montrose, CO
• Omaha, NE
• Riverton, WY
• Scottsbluff, NE
• Steamboat Springs, CO (served via the Yampa Valley Airport)
• Telluride, CO

The above referenced OAG also lists only three destinations served nonstop from Denver by Continental Airlines mainline jet service at this time: Cleveland (CLE), Houston (IAH) and Newark (EWR), all of which were the location of Continental hubs in 1995.

Accidents

GP Express Airlines was noted for an unusually high fatal accident rate for its fleet size and received additional FAA oversight as a result.^[2]

• On December 23, 1987 a GP Express Cessna 402 crashed on approach to Chadron, Nebraska.^[2] The crash resulted in fatal injuries to the two person flight crew and serious injuries to the only passenger.^[5]
• GP Express Flight 861 crashed near Anniston, Alabama on June 9, 1992, only two days after operations began in the GP Express Southern Region.^[1]
• On April 28, 1993, a GP Express Airlines Beechcraft Model 99 crashed near Shelton, Nebraska during execution of an aerobatic maneuver during a non-revenue check ride. Both pilots sustained fatal injuries.^[6]

References